GALLIPOLI SUNRISE - H'work for w/e 7.5.18

[Maureen K Clifford]

GALLIPOLI SUNRISE .... Maureen Clifford © The #ScribblyBark Poet

As the sun rose over ancient waters
and the surf swept and foamed over stone,
red fingers of fire brushed the water,
and the breeze in the pines raised a moan
akin to the sound of their torment,
a low, inadmissible tone
of souls who were lost in the ether -
the fallen who couldn't go home.

Tiny droplets of brightness still lingered,
clinging fast to the old rusting wire,
but these were the droplets from rain showers ,
not blood drops caused by enemy fire.
And from somewhere deep in my memory -
a melody we used to share,
a song that my Mother had taught me
so well ..... 'Australia will be there '.

A rose wreath I tossed in the Aegean
as a token of love for you both,
the red for the roses you gave her
on the day when you pledged her your troth.
A symbol of love and devotion
for centuries so stories tell,
so I sent a prayer to the ether
and hoped that it found you both well.

For I'll not walk these shores again I know,
age has caught up with me now at last.
I needed to walk there beside you
as I did as a child - hands held fast.
I felt the soft breezes surround me
'twas like you both held me encased
as the sun rose over ancient waters
Turkey's soil held you in her embrace.

[Terry]

A very touching and well thought out poem Maureen,
we're all still haunted by the memory and will be for generations to come I suspect.

You also made excellent and expert use of the prompts.

Regards

Terry

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thank you Terry - I greatly appreciate your considered comment.

[Neville Briggs]

Maureen, I have never been to Gallipoli, it must be a remarkable experience to stand on the shore where the ANZAC legend was made. I guess the soldiers would have been astonished if they had been able to know that the place would become a sort of shrine, to them it was just another killing ground in the evil violence that is war.

You got that one going quick, no writers block there.

[Catherine Lee]

Wow Maureen - excellent poem! My turn to say I think you should bear this one in mind for a competition...a powerful, moving write!