Maria Sutherland

MY PROMISE

I promise you dear soldier
to remember what you’ve done
all the sacrifices you have made
in battles lost and won.

I promise you dear soldier
that you will not have fought in vain
even when the years have come and gone
and only your tombstone does remain

I promise you dear soldier
a poppy I will wear
to show the world I’m proud of you
and that I will always care

I promise you dear soldier
to teach my children well
so that they will always remember
and to their children the stories tell

To you I make this promise
an oath straight from my heart
to never, ever forget you
and that in my life you have a part.

Lest that we forget
the terror that is war
and all that has been given
by those who fought before

©Copyright November 2000 by Maria Sutherland

While looking for a poem to read for Remembrance Day, I “found” a poem by Maria Sutherland called “My Promise”.

Is she still writing, and can I get in touch with her? If not, I would like to let you know that the poem really struck a cord with me.

While living in hiding in Holland during the War, I was liberated by Canadian Paratroopers on Sept. 19th. 1944 and have never forgotten, even though I was just a small child. I certainly did not ever realize I would some day live in Canada.

I made myself a promise to tell everyone what happened to me and my family during the Holocaust, and continue to speak to students and adults as a Holocaust Education Speaker.

Anyway, I hope that adds a little history to some of your Poetry collections.

Marion I. Cassirer
Richmond, BC Canada
5 November 2011