Written by Leo Marks in 1943 as a code poem for Violette Szabo who was an agent with SOE. She was captured and shot in 1944.

Leo Mark's book "From Silk to Cyanide" tells of his life in SOE and he talks about many spies he sent off to undercover work during WWII. He was in his early 20s at the time. The book was published last year. If the poem touched you I think you'd enjoy his story.