23rd July 1943: Returned safely from a successful raid, no casualties, minor damage. Hamburg left behind in flames. Warmed us all.
It was years before I linked my memories of bombing with the annihilation we inflicted in return.
We only saw buildings burning. No civilians; no women or children.
It was just. It was not the same.
In a residential district rebuilt as commercial, weekend empty, I imagined the scenes.
I saw the girl who had died in my arms, who I had sworn to avenge, dying again and again as the neighbourhood burned around me.
Were we ever just?
It was years before I linked my memories of bombing with the annihilation we inflicted in return.
We only saw buildings burning. No civilians; no women or children.
It was just. It was not the same.
In a residential district rebuilt as commercial, weekend empty, I imagined the scenes.
I saw the girl who had died in my arms, who I had sworn to avenge, dying again and again as the neighbourhood burned around me.
Were we ever just?
Written for the 100 Word Challenge on Thin Spiral Notebook; the prompt was the word, Justice.
Very powerful imagery.
ReplyDelete