ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Beneath Her wing

We sheltered there, beneath her wing, in days before it all began.
Our youth and innocence the thing protecting us from boy to man.
Still blind to horrors up ahead we vowed to stand beside our mate
and stand we did in life and death to meet again at Peter's gate.
ZK

Beneath her wing we made a vow, we six young men, on battle's edge
that each man would, like brothers true, hold fast in courage, keep this pledge.
If one should fall as victim of a bullet from the dreaded foe,
then one of us would write a note to those back home, to ease the blow.
ZK

Beneath her wing we talked of home, of sweethearts , mums and familes missed
of where we lived and who we loved before the day came to enlist
Our home away from home was made , beneath the palms on Moratai
We spoke of hopes and dreams of youth, our will to live to get us by
MB

But little did we know back then of all the horrors of a war
exuberance of youth had blinded us to what would be in store.
We felt we were invincible; six mates who gathered there back then,
though little more than boys at first, we’d soon be trained as fighting men
TP

Beneath her wing we made a vow, we six young men, on battle's edge
that each man would, like brothers true, hold fast in courage, keep this pledge.
If one should fall as victim of a bullet from the dreaded foe,
then one of us would write a note to those back home, to ease the blow.
ZK

Though newly pinned with angles wings, on shoulders that were born to fly,
our squad, like many families, was split to face the foe on high.
Deployed where orders took us off to many strange and foreign parts
but vows we made beneath her wing were deeply carved upon our hearts.
ZK + JP (thanks John)

We fought the Japs in Tarakan with Kitty hawks up in the air
Spitfires and Bristol Beaufighters which gave no quarter anywhere,
and young and fearless all were we, invincible or so we thought;
though soon the War Gods sent their bill the price was paid. ‘twas blood they sought.
MKC

BENEATH HER WING

We sheltered there, beneath her wing, in days before it all began.
Our youth and innocence the thing protecting us from boy to man.
Still blind to horrors up ahead we vowed to stand beside our mate
and stand we did in life and death to meet again at Peter's gate.
ZK

Beneath her wing we made a vow, we six young men, on battle's edge
that each man would, like brothers true, hold fast in courage, keep this pledge.
If one should fall as victim of a bullet from the dreaded foe,
then one of us would write a note to those back home, to ease the blow.
ZK

Beneath her wing we talked of home, of sweethearts , mums and familes missed
of where we lived and who we loved before the day came to enlist
Our home away from home was made , beneath the palms on Morotai
We spoke of hopes and dreams of youth, our will to live to get us by
MB

But little did we know back then of all the horrors of a war
exuberance of youth had blinded us to what would be in store.
We felt we were invincible; six mates who gathered there back then,
though little more than boys at first, we’d soon be trained as fighting men
TP

Beneath her wing we made a vow, we six young men, on battle's edge
that each man would, like brothers true, hold fast in courage, keep this pledge.
If one should fall as victim of a bullet from the dreaded foe,
then one of us would write a note to those back home, to ease the blow.
ZK

Though newly pinned with angles wings, on shoulders that were born to fly,
our squad, like many families, was split to face the foe on high.
Deployed where orders took us off to many strange and foreign parts
but vows we made beneath her wing were deeply carved upon our hearts.
ZK + JP (thanks John)

We fought the Japs in Tarakan with Kitty hawks up in the air
Spitfires and Bristol Beaufighters which gave no quarter anywhere,
and young and fearless all were we, invincible or so we thought;
though soon the War Gods sent their bill the price was paid. ‘twas blood they sought.
MKC

They said it was imperitive at this stage of this bloody war
to take it from the Japanese and that we did in forty four.
We took the southwest of the Isle and then we used whatever means
to build a base and airstrips there to liberate the Phillipines.
TS

Thanks John,
I knew it was out, just hadn't got around to fixing it, but will do now, seeing you have sorted it out for me.

Cheers Terry

No worries Terry

Regards


John Peel

G'day Marty,

Have you tried to put this final chapter in rhyming verse? There are two or possible three stanzas here. It would bring the whole story to a great conclusion.
I think, like me, most of our fellow poets are honouring the men in the photo by leaving your memorial and not trying to force it.

I'm sure it will be well worth the effort.

If you would like an extra pair of eyes in editing, please don't hesitate to pm.

G'day everyone,

I was just trawling through my files of poems (in the computer) when I came on this one from late 2011.
It is worth another look so by commenting it comes to the top again.
Well done those who contributed. Maybe it is time to have a go at another one?
Any good ideas?