Modern British War Poetry

The following is poet Louise Russell's introduction to poems about the effect that battle has had on her husband, David, who was aboard the HMS Sheffield (pictured above) when it was hit and sunk in 1982 (during the Falkans War) by an Exocet missile from Argentine aircraft. Following this intorduction are two poems by Russell. 

Since 1987 when David was medically discharged with PTSD the real David has been missing but appears from time to time which is lovely.  Unfortunately, the David who came back from the Falklands refuses to leave – a bit like Jekyll and Hyde.
I believe there are many “Falklands veterans”  who are also the “forgotten heroes.” I mean the wives, sweethearts, mums, sisters, daughters, sons, brothers and dads of veterans.  There has been a lot of writings by the vets, however, I believe it is just as important for the other side of the coin to be publicised.   In almost the words of Churchill never in the field of human combat has so much been done for so many by so many who are still suffering the fallout of this conflict.I have spoken to many families of Falklands vets and haven't come across one family who have not suffered and are still suffering because of this conflict.

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"The Call of Home"

A river of tears cannot cleanse
The unseen wound which does not heal
There are more than battlefield shells
So many human shells return home
To the family never to be the same
Children once had a dad to turn to
Now he’s an island with a barrier reef
And she searches and searches in disbelief
She knows he’s in there somewhere
But she cannot find the path
She doesn’t know it’s a one way street
It’s his choice if they are ever to meet
In the land of trust where love is all around
When his spirit’s journey is homeward bound
It’s a long road to travel with many pitfalls
But when he stumbles her heart hears his calls
No company for him he must travel alone
But the family’s love is the beacon guiding him home
Home is where the spirit longs to be
Surrounded by love then it can be free

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"Lost"

Yes you are here
But so far away
That you are not near

Your smile that never
Reaches your vacant eyes
I wonder will it ever

A heart turned to stone
Just to survive the
Pain of being alone

I don’t know how
It captured your soul
Always with you now
I will find the key
To unlock your heart
And set you free 
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Click here for more from Falkan War Poems Anthology.