Anzac Day

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jakkimay
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Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 7:50 am

Anzac Day

Post by jakkimay » Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:24 pm

‘Anzac Day’
(A True Story)

I once knew a boy who was wild at heart -
a tomboy, a larrikin, a bit of a lark.
He was tall and handsome; his father’s son.
He was loved by all, especially his Mum.

He had cheeky eyes and feral hair,
a killer smile and he knew how to swear.
He could charm the birds right out of the trees
and torment his mates; he was such a tease.

He had dreams of one day owning a farm -
a place where his family would come to no harm.
He loved the country; he loved the sea.
He wanted a place where he knew he’d be free.

But, fate took a hand in his life to be
and fate can be cruel in our destiny.
He didn’t know what the future might hold
as he pondered on dreams of how he’d grow old.

War soon broke out across the sea
and the army, he thought, was the place to be.
He spoke to his family; he spoke to his friends.
Despite all their protests he joined up in the end.

He was just 17 when he became a recruit,
something his family and friends found moot.
He was just a boy who was full of fun;
didn’t know the first thing about handling a gun.

He left his family and friends behind;
he thought of the dangers, but didn’t mind.
He knew what to do; he’d heard the call;
he’d soon be a soldier standing proud and tall.

Months of training, hair no longer a mess,
he joined the elite SAS.
His family stood proud graduation day
when he was awarded the Fawn Beret.

Australia was called to join the fray
and our brave young man was sent away.
He was soon shipped off to Vietnam
where our innocent soldier became a man.

He was still a lad when he went to war
and saw things he’d never seen before.
I can’t imagine the terrors he faced;
so much horror and so much waste.

The jungle steamy, wet and hot.
No time to sleep; no place for a cot.
Adrenaline pumping through every mate.
What did he think of his dreadful fate?

His troop moved slowly feeling the fear;
they knew the wretched enemy was near.
Some alert, others half spent,
through the steaming jungle, forward they went.

Dressed in black, their adversary hidden;
to shoot on sight was never forbidden.
In tunnels and trees they lurked here and there -
the bloody enemy was everywhere.

He was tail end Charlie that fateful day
and with each step forward he would silently pray.
Each one of his comrades doing their best
when they came upon an enemy nest.

They crept through the jungle steaming hot
when out of nowhere there rang a shot.
Little did they know what destiny held -
that one of their comrades would be brutally felled .

A sniper attacked them from the rear -
an enemy so cunning they didn’t hear
until that fateful shot rang loud
slaying a mate - our soldier proud.

He was carried to safety by his comrades in arms
and died dreaming peacefully of family and farms.
What would the future have been for him
if he hadn’t died on someone’s whim?

War is such a terrible waste
of life and dreams they couldn’t taste.
Where would we be without troops so brave
who fight for our freedom, our country to save?

This boy was special to family and friends;
his life ended suddenly at the enemy’s hands
but, memories of him will never fade.
Lest we forget our soldier brave!

© Jakki May
25.4.09
'Friendship is love without His wings!'

Neville Briggs
Posts: 6946
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 12:08 pm
Location: Here

Re: Anzac Day

Post by Neville Briggs » Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:58 pm

It's interesting to see a reference to the Vietnam War, Jakki. I reckon a soldier is a soldier wherever he is asked to do his duty, politicians can work out the politics of it.
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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