No Word

No word,
In the hall,
Looking at the plaque,
Prying for a clue,
In the log-book pages,
Pre-war coats and hats,
No word and no word,
And in the best room of all,
The bronze Scout raising his hat,
Under an unseen sun,
No word either,
Under the table,
Amongst adults legs,
Except 'One heart',
And Mum and Dad pause,
Brothers and Sisters too,
For the bombers run,
And looking up,
No word,
The youngest sister chides,
"Oh Bill",
For not coming home.

© R Frank Wilson