UNTERSEEBOOT

The war had just begun,
And the U-boat lied played,
The bands, the stirring sendoff,
Before their nerves were frayed.

At the start most hearts were happy,
Most chests would swell with pride,
When the wolves would slip their moorings,
To patrol the oceans wide.

There were some like Gunther Prien,
Whose names the world would know,
But few outlived their glory,
And were lost on war patrol.

At first t'was easy pickings,
All in the "Happy Time",
Heroes would return to Lorient,
To be cheered, dined and wined.

Then came the time of losing,
When heroes came no more,
No brass bands played their sendoff,
As the grey wolves sailed to war.

I wonder Otto Kretschmer,
Just before you fall asleep,
Do you often think of comrades,
Now sleeping in the deep.

Ian A. Millar