Kids of the Homefront Army: Certain Advantages

There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives and in our daily tasks. Here at home everyone will have the privilege of making whatever self-denial is necessary, not only to supply our fighting men, but to keep the economic structure of our country fortified and secure during the war and after the war.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s radio broadcast to the nation, April 28, 1942

Friday, December 9, 2011

Certain Advantages

Luka

CERTAIN ADVANTAGES

Things have always been rough,
after all, there are eight kids
in the family.
Father worked days
while mother worked nights,
and we barely got by.
Now mother is working
at the railroad station.
She cleans out the cars
that carry the troops
on their way to the war.
I never would have thought
that a war could be good,
but for us, it has been.
Mother brings home
sandwiches and candy bars
left behind by the soldiers,
and we all get to eat.

© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Photo courtesy Library of Congress.

2 comments:

Linda at teacherdance said...: So, as in so many things, some things are good if examined from new perspectives. Good!; December 9, 2011 at 3:29 PM
I'm Jet . . . said...: A poignant perspective . . .; December 11, 2011 at 9:44 AM