Martin “Marty” Boyce

A HERO TO US

You never spoke of your experience of war
Wouldn’t reveal any horrors you saw
These were things you kept locked up within
We understood why you could not let us in

Never mentioned in dispatches as brave
No mention of lives you helped save
But you were a hero to us all the same
For the years of your youth that you gave

Our generation still owes you a debt
To the selfless example you set
When your country asked you answered the call
You enlisted knowing that you might fall

No great rows of medals to show
Just old photos that have started to bow
I’m glad I asked for their story that day
Though you are gone there’s still someone who knows

Fading memories were all that remained
Perhaps there were things you didn’t want us to know
One thing you said still sticks in my mind:
If there’s a war son I don’t want you to go

You grew old and you lived a full life
You raised your kids with your wonderful wife
And we gave thanks to the fact every day
That you managed to stay out of strife

©Copyright 2010 by Marty Boyce