At eleven o'clock in the morning on the eleventh of November, a klaxon sounds from the shipyards calling us to a two minute remembrance of the war dead. At the war memorial, outside the gates of Govan Old, I stand silent.
Carved in marble are the names of the battlefields, Ypres, Somme, Mons. . . A copper plaque states that the monument was "Erected In Memory of the Men of Govan Who Fell In the Great War 1914-1918". Encircled above are Kipling's words, "Their Name Liveth Forever".
I pause and reflect on how true that is, and then sounds the mournful blast of the shipyard horn signalling our return to daily life, 2008.
But I wait a little longer, for again I am conscious of the strong connection between past and present that fills the still, grey green air. Govan can be a time machine for the soul.
1 comment:
As children we ran up and down the steps of that monument time and time again, not really aware of the significance of the memorial.
Thanks for posting the photos.
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