Grow Not Old
Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 12:45 pm
Grow Not Old
©AndrewHull,2009
There’s a sprinkling of stars
For the day is nearly born
And the red on the horizon
Marks the coming of the dawn
As the cenotaph is silhouette
Backlit in morning gold
Grow not old, this morning
Grow not old
I can hear a distant trumpet
As an echo in my ears
For it calls across a hundred seas
Across a hundred years
It pours a fire in my heart
That calms the bitter cold
Grow not old, this echo
Grow not old
Words of love and loyalty
Of sacrifice and loss
Words of strength and freedom
Beneath a southern cross
Words we whisper proudly
For the bravest and the bold
Grow not old, my brother
Grow not old
Your eyes are growing weary
And your bones becoming weak
Your tongue is tied with memories
Of which you never speak
But your heart is still unbroken
By the secrets it must hold
Grow not old, my father
Grow not old
I will be there in the morning
And again a close of day
I will listen for the words
Which I know you cannot say
I will bow my head in silence
And will watch the flag unfold
Grow not old, my mother
Grow not old
They shall grow not old
Nor shall their memory fade
Age will not betray them
Nor weariness invade
The years will not condemn them
Their story will be told
Grow not old, my country
Grow not old
h
©AndrewHull,2009
There’s a sprinkling of stars
For the day is nearly born
And the red on the horizon
Marks the coming of the dawn
As the cenotaph is silhouette
Backlit in morning gold
Grow not old, this morning
Grow not old
I can hear a distant trumpet
As an echo in my ears
For it calls across a hundred seas
Across a hundred years
It pours a fire in my heart
That calms the bitter cold
Grow not old, this echo
Grow not old
Words of love and loyalty
Of sacrifice and loss
Words of strength and freedom
Beneath a southern cross
Words we whisper proudly
For the bravest and the bold
Grow not old, my brother
Grow not old
Your eyes are growing weary
And your bones becoming weak
Your tongue is tied with memories
Of which you never speak
But your heart is still unbroken
By the secrets it must hold
Grow not old, my father
Grow not old
I will be there in the morning
And again a close of day
I will listen for the words
Which I know you cannot say
I will bow my head in silence
And will watch the flag unfold
Grow not old, my mother
Grow not old
They shall grow not old
Nor shall their memory fade
Age will not betray them
Nor weariness invade
The years will not condemn them
Their story will be told
Grow not old, my country
Grow not old
h