World War II



At the end of the six years of World War Two

Seventy-five million persons had died ... of whom

Twenty million were Russians - clearly the most

But forty-four million Allies also gave up the ghost



As well as eleven million from the Axis powers ...

Germany, Italy, Japan ... all shrunk, by the hour

But China also lost some thirteen and a half million

Making it second after Russia - to be diminished ...     



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

6:10pm Memorial Day, '99