A world of words that heals
FLOW is a safe, open community where poems, stories, letters and lyrics help people process trauma, share their truth, and feel less alone — in honour of our late patron, Dame Vera Lynn.
Scottish Charitable Organisation · SC050666 · Don't worry about spelling — just write
Latest contributions
View all →My Room Full of Demons
Oh yeah, come on in, but mind how you go. It’s dark in this room, and there's hazards you know. There’s boxes and boulders and bodies as well. And watch for that trapdoor; it leads straight to hell. So what do you want? You’ll need to go soon. You won't want to stay...
B.V
The B V. Across rough terrain Or trundling into battle. The BV would be strapped in. So the bloody thing didn't rattle. The BV was a life support machine. More important than the vehicle itself. It or they sat just above the first aid kit. On the back door, on a...
Safe Working from the floor
Safe working from the floor I’m perfectly safe working from the floor . I’ve worked at height on Emley Moor To trim an Apple tree is not an Arm Wrestle I wouldn’t have to use a trestle, A stack of metal would act as my floor Then I could get busy with my Saw Finishing...
Sappers Friend
Sappers friend Please dont believe the world will end because now you’ve become a Sappers friend Loyal , humorous a bit of a lad A caring loving smashing Dad A loving , providing husband too Who all your life will take care of you. Able to cope with most of the S**t...
Just a Boy
Just a Boy The prisoner was marched out at dawn Looking lonely and forlorn Hands tied, blindfolded and afraid Sick, tired and betrayed Just a boy who got shell shock Sentenced to be shot His mother cried when the telegram came Executed as a coward: he was to blame No...
You – Me – Split
In all of the acts that my mind has created The one that hurts most is the hider, the faded. The one that won't tell you the pain that I’m in. The one that is buried so deep in my sin. I’m dying in here my thinking’s all twisted. My names are so many but none of...
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Farewell
The news was expected her time was to close The news stories written of our fine English rose Our thoughts and our thinking said she’d be fine Our long-reigning monarch who stood against time But come the day did on the 8th of September That our Queen had now passed a...
A Name On the Menin Gate
A Name on the Menin Gate He went to war like a lamb My Great Uncle Daniel Blindly walking into the Lion’s Den Did he think it was a lark? Or just happy to play his part A war to end all wars Over by Christmas they said Those with a wise head Opted for safety instead...
Mac and Vera
[vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" column_margin="default" column_direction="default" column_direction_tablet="default" column_direction_phone="default" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" row_border_radius="none"...
What Makes A Man
Once your war is over Once your rifle’s stowed away Once you’re home safe and alive To see another day You’ll stand tall beside your comrades And remember those you’ve lost You’ll burst with pride yet deep inside Your mind will count the cost And you’ll bottle those...
A Poem For Veterans
I wish you could tell them just how you feel about the torment and fear And pain in your heart, about the sadness you felt , not just for yourself but for friends you held dear They were your comrades and you held them close, just when you needed them the most To hear...
Upon Receiving a Wartime Letter of Condolence
The hand that had caressed himNow held a pen she kept for best.When she was a child,she would lose herself,In the cloudy blue grey swirls of its shaft.The words would not come at first.Then hesitantly they arrived.‘much appreciated’; ‘great comfort’;So...
How to contribute
Share your poem, story, letter or lyrics with the FLOW community — it's free and simple.
Write freely
Don't worry about spelling or grammar. We want your words, in your way, exactly as you write them.
Register
Fill in our simple form to create your free FLOW account — it only takes a minute.
Submit
Upload your poem, story, letter or lyrics using our easy submission form.
Go live
After a friendly review, your writing goes live on FLOW for the world to read and respond to.
"Through my own experiences in talking with the boys and girls about their thoughts on war and how they felt about going into action… through poetry they express themselves with absolute clarity, deep feeling and simplicity. I only have to read 'In Flanders Field' or Kipling's 'Tommy' to fully appreciate and be thankful for the beauty of FLOW. We must never forget them."
Dame Vera Lynn DBE — Our late patron, 1917–2020