The ration book

WARNING !! as this contains no rose scented words
no beseech from the altar to the heart  
blessings bestowed upon the flock  
just pictures of neglect that wars have brought  
and destitution was its scourge  
  
Hear that quote the "uncofortabe truth"  
the cerfew as good times depart  
the drone of bombers overhead  
heard sirens wail, and escape onslaught  
the praying deadly birds  
   
Scratch around for comforts  
amongst the debris piles  
playgrounds imaginations  
the ink that never dries  
and all of that mosaic the cream amid the curd  
   
Each classroom beset with the correction pen  
the margins we survived  
for in that red, the underline, a total out of ten  
as the fractions were applied  
in hard times, the invest a rapid learning curve  
   
The ration book the teachers pet  
teaching of non essentials  be purged  
for those who took you shoulder  
the brotherhood you tied  
the boyish grin, a hug and whispered hold your nerve  
   
stamped with the stuff of nightmares  
the worst and best of times  
not in books, a siblings right to share  
and blood the essence of that guide  
and wisdom come and hold in that preserve