‘Visionaries’ by David McKinstry, Glasgow

As winter turned to spring
And Churchill’s bombast stilled,
The nation turned to quiet Clem
Voting for a rebuild.

Up went the homes
Finally for heroes to fit,
Down went the miners
Into nationalised pit.

Nye valued good health
Stuffed doctors’ mouths with gold,
As a price worth paying
For an NHS to behold.

Castle insisted family allowance
To women be paid,
Then came the pension
Taking care of all
From cradle to grave.

Proletarian petals began to flower
In schools that planted sixties swinging,
The light of knowledge shining
To the echoes of Jerusalem singing.

Through blitz storm they stood firm
When Nazi was at the gate,
Then with worn out tools
Turned to build a welfare state.