Poem

Stay with me God, the night is dark!

The night is cold; my little spark

Of courage dims, the night is long.

Be with me God and make me strong.

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I love a game; I love a fight.

I hate the dark; I love the light.

I love my child; I love my wife.

I am no coward. I love life.

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Life with its change of mood and shade,

I want to live. I’m not afraid.

But me and mine are hard to part.

O unknown God lift up my heart.

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You stilled the waters at Dunkirk

You saved Your servants, all Your work

Is wonderful. Dear God; you strode

Before us down that dreadful road.

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We were alone and hope had fled.

We loved our country and our dead.

And could not shame them; so we stayed —

The course and were not much afraid.

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Dear God, that nightmare road! And then

That sea! We got there – we were men.

My eyes were blind, my feet were torn,

My soul sang like a bird at dawn!

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I know that death is but a door;

I knew what we were fighting for.

Peace for the kids, our brothers freed,

A kinder world, a cleaner breed.

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I’m but the son my mother bore.

A simple man, and nothing more.

But – God of strength and gentleness,

Be pleased to make me nothing less!

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Help me again when death is near.

To mock the haggard face of fear,

That when I fall, if fall I must,

My soul may triumph in the dust!

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