Blackout

My singing skirt material I got cheap
like blackout curtains
do they have that now?

Not like my war
the war when I was born
in nineteen forty one
bombers and doodle bugs

But I was safe
down in the cellar
just a babe in arms.

I didn’t know

“Safe” Mummy said
“My darling, you were safe.”

Not like them now
are blackout curtains any use to them?
the mothers in Ukraine
the babes in arms in—
what’s that place you said?
that funny name like stars
Ah
     Let me sleep now