Ladies Of The Land

[Zondrae]

There are many suitable poems to honour the men of war. I thought I would like to honour the back up crew at home.


Ladies of The Land
© Zondrae King (Corrimal) 02/07

Their names were Dot and Glad and Kate
left standing at the garden gate.
Their men, as men have done before,
joined up and went away to war.
Then, patiently, the women wait.

They pulled their boots on, as you would
and set to work as good folk should.
Both in the country and the town
they served the country and the crown.
They filled the gaps as best they could.

These women then became a band
of sisters to protect the land.
They were, in truth, an army core
another aspect of all war.
Then, side by side, they swore to stand.

On rural blocks with farms to run
the children had no time for fun.
Each had her duty, jobs to do
chooks, dogs and calves and siblings too.
They helped and cared and things were done.

In industry, they needed hands
in uniforms, no marching bands,
the women came to take on trades
to turn the plough shears into blades
they drove the tractors, tilled the lands.

So while the men were far away
they did the work of every day.
They drove the lorries, manned each post
and kept a lookout on the coast,
rewarded with an Army pay.

They packed the goods and stacked the stores
and sent their goods to foreign shores
to keep the soldiers spirits high.
To try to keep them warm and dry,
when fighting Nippon, Hun, or Boers.

They pumped the fuel and baked the bread.
Each bruised her hands and used her head.
They trained to fill each tradesmans place.
Beneath their khakis they wore lace.
Sometimes their hearts felt full of lead.

As goods were rationed times were tough
those women, made of stronger stuff,
learned how to improvise each day
and had to find a smarter way
to pass each test, though things were rough.

They also served the ones to wait
and pray while in the hands of fate.
The mothers, daughters, sisters, wives
who led those strange, disjointed lives
and stood beside the garden gate.

And though they were not ‘over there’
they truly felt they did their share.
They kept the home fires burning bright
for men returning from the fight,
A haven filled with those who care.

[Hully]

beauty.

h

[Heather]

Excellent poem Zondrae. The role of women in war is often forgotten but was very valuable.

Heather