Bogey-hole we called it, but I wasn't scared.
A secret place to hide in, smelling of wax
and furniture polish. Candles just in case;
a soft rag-bag I plundered for doll's velvet.
Christmas baubles, camp-bed, Wellington boots.

Where did they go when the family invaded ?
What did we do with the wooden clothes horse,
the little brown Goblin vacuum cleaner ?
The peg-bag was still hanging inside the door,
but where was the wicker laundry basket ?

Me and my Mum and my Nan and the baby -
(Dad was away in the army of course) -
sitting together on the double eiderdown,
it must have been a tight fit. I wasn't scared,
though the wailing siren did its best to scare me.

Me in my siren-suit listening for the pips :
Pip! Pip! Pip! the planes getting nearer.
There go the guns, louder and fiercer.
Is that one of ours ? or theirs ? a falling whine,
a small silence... BOOM! the house trembles.

"That didn't last too long ... poor devils in London..."
Now its just waiting and waiting. At last the All Clear,
rising up,rising up-then holding its note firm and steady-
no dipping or wailing -oh angelic ringing and singing !
What joy, what relief! ... even though ...
I hadn't been scared...