Welcome to FLOW

Welcome to our world of poems, stories, lyrics and letters, and we hope you enjoy reading the many contributions people from across the world have made.

In June 2020 we lost our wonderful patron Dame Vera Lynn (DBE), and in her memory we will continue to be a light in the darkness for all those who have suffered trauma, especially from war.

The light she shone for so many will never fade, just as we remember all who have fallen over the years, and all those who have suffered trauma regardless of how it was caused.

Come inside and wrap yourself up with the words we have gathered together.

FLOW for ALL (FLOW) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) whose registered number is SC050666.

FLOW is entered in the Scottish Charity Register as an incorporated body having charitable status under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.

Poems, Stories, Lyrics and Letters on FLOW

BETHLEHEM

BETHLEHEM At an inconvenient time Mary travelled to Bethlehem And, on arrival, found no room – Only a stable in which to Stay. But the animals, used to Seeing birth, warmed the cold air with Their rhythmic breath, gave her hay to Lie on, their manger in which to...

Poetry
Nov 22, 2023

PAYING THE PRICE

PAYING THE PRICE A simple poppy of red and black, Reminds us of those never coming back, A stone memorial instead of a grave, Records the names of lives they gave. In uniform and civilian suit, Men silently stand to take the salute, A minutes silence for their...

Poetry
Nov 20, 2023

My Second Poem – Poppies

POPPIES In the stamens of red poppies See the eyes of dead men marching, See the glitz and glam of Empire, All the swagger, stomp and strutting, All the bugles, drums and bagpipes, Swirling kilts and horses clipping, Nostrils twitching smelling battle, Hearing...

Poetry
Oct 13, 2023

My First Poem – TOM

TOM “It’s only a scratch,” Said Tom, yet I’m still Here, still able to wheel myself round and See others that I’m told are worse than me And remember, with crystal clarity, Rorking carrions above the clearing Smoke and feel their wings flap-splatting in the...

Poetry
Oct 13, 2023

THE EMPTY CHAIR

THE EMPTY CHAIR There it stays, the empty chair, Where once our Rory sat there, It stays there empty day by day, It’s been like that since Rory went away. Rory enlisted to do his bit, The army took him, found him fit, Whisked away to a bloody war, That’s the last...

Poetry
Oct 6, 2023

HOMELESS AND HELPLESS

HOMELESS and HELPLESS The streets are cold, the pavements bare, That’s what it’s like when home’s nowhere, Life turns on a sixpence, I’ve heard them say, World turned upside down in just one day. I have my story, you have yours, It never rains but it always pours,...

Poetry
Sep 25, 2023

IN MEMORIAM – 11th NOVEMBER

IN MEMORIAM - 11th NOVEMBER There are war memorials all over this land, Silent and cold wherever they stand, As silent as those who paid with their life, Left their loved ones, family or wife, As cold as they ground in which they lay, Probably in some soil so far...

Poetry
Sep 25, 2023

DAWN

DAWN - By Will Roe 21st September 2023 The airman stood at the edge of the airfield watching the dawn light slowly reveal the huge grass area that was the runway. He shivered suddenly as the cool air got through both his tunic and the overall that he wore and...

Stories
Sep 25, 2023

THE FALLEN

THE FALLEN The order came, it was to do or die, Soldiers offered a prayer to the sky, To do their duty that fateful day, Cross the battlefield where enemy lay. A hail of bullets, a crash of shell, No-mans land was a living hell, Noise and smell attacked their...

Poetry
Sep 25, 2023

Blood Red Poppies

BLOOD RED POPPIES Poppies, poppies, as far as can be seen, Growing by the wayside or in a foreign field, Blood red and growing in masses wild, Where many a soldiers fate was sealed. Small and fragile like someone’s life, Growing together in a haze of red, In many a...

Poetry
Sep 25, 2023

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A word from our late patron

“Through my own experiences in talking with the boys and girls about their thoughts on war and how they felt about going into action many would just shrug; “it’s what we are trained to do” they would say. For most their thoughts are so personal, and even for the most articulate often difficult to put into words without aggrandizement. Yet through poetry they express themselves with absolute clarity, deep feeling and simplicity. I only have to read the poem “In Flanders Field” by Lt Col John McCrae or Kipling’s “Tommy” to fully appreciate and be thankful for the beauty of FLOW. To see this tradition still flourishing in the fertile minds of today’s young men and women of our armed forces is gratifying and humbling. They leave us such a precious legacy which is matched by their courage, honour and duty. We must never forget them.”

Dame Vera Lynn
Our Patron

%

of people exposed to mass violence have been shown to develop PTSD

Million Adults are diagnosed with PTSD during a given year

Women are 2x more likely to suffer from PTSD than men