Dedicated to soldiers worldwide ~ past, present and future
For you...
Grandfather, Dad and Husband proudly wore
the emblem of the Aussie Rising Sun
three different theatres of war
yet all put their hand up, answered the call
to fight the good fight for their country
to win freedom for us all
My Grandad was an ANZAC
fought the Turks at Suvla Bay
baptism of fire at Gallipoli
two emerging nations gone to war
Farmers, clerks and lawyers, young boys
those who lied about their age
so eager to don the uniform
to have their Boys' Own Adventure
No golden wattles, 'roos or bunyips there
only rocks, sand and water
chilling loneliness and fear
the blazing fire of guns
My Dad, he walked the famous Kokoda Track
sweltered in North Africa's desert sands
saw his mates fall beside him
came home a different man
Stories told reluctantly
of mateship and ties that bind
he mostly told me the funny ones
refused to glorify the war
No yearly reunions with the boys
he sat and mourned alone
wife and daughter to share his pain
every ANZAC Day I still cry
My Husband served his time as well
in the jungles of Vietnam
another forgotten soldier
shunned by those he served
Life on the line every day
a nightmare that never ends
lives he saved, friends he made
just a job but he did it with pride
He is one of the lucky ones
no outward wounds to speak of
but he will not march in April
sits at home and mourns alone
I am so proud of my three soldiers
each gave their gift of freedom
to you, to me, to those yet to be born
every day I send a prayer of thanks
for allowing me to love my soldiers
that is all I have to give
Author notes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYynHmE8b0&mode=related&search=
Option chosen for this contest on 25th April 2008 - Option one, poetic inspiration.
pearl-dragon
This is the 100th poem I have posted at AllPoetry and I wanted to choose a special subject.
For those not from Australia ~ ANZAC Day - April 25th is the day we pause to remember the sacrifices made by our soldiers, starting with the Dawn service which commemorates the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at what is now called ANZAC Cove at 4.28 a.m.
We also stop to honour the fallen on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month...in commemoration of the signing of the Armistice which ended The Great War
I would like to quote the fourth and the last stanza from For The Fallen by Laurence Binyon. The fourth stanza is said by Australians at Remembrance Services and in Returned Servicemens Clubs throughout the country:-
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
As the stars shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
Lest We Forget...
In a list
A contest entry
- Look At This Picture and write by WhisperingSpirit.
500 points, ended September 24, 2007, 14 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - In Honor of our Service Men and Women...Anything Patriotic.!! by Beautiful-N-Broken.
335 points, ended September 29, 2007, 7 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Take Me Back to the 20th Century Wars by Nicolette Everett.
700 points, ended December 8, 2007, 12 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - No one cares about the heroes by Carefuldelusion.
900 points, ended May 20, 2008, 21 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - ANZAC Spirit by incondite.
600 points, ended May 3, 2008, 9 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Well done. This is an excellent tribute to our brave countrymen. Please put your name in the author notes and good luck.
OneLastThing--x
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*sighs and salutes* Indeed, lest we forget...
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Very Honorable
It's nice that you chose to honor loved ones for your 100th poem. I am sure they all love and support you as much as you love and support them. Too often I think people forget the sacrifices of others, and more often than even that, the sacrifices of those who are left waiting at home.
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Wow, I can feel the emotion, their pain. This is a good poem to be your 100th on AP. It is a good piece and well put.
Nice job!
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A very good, thoughtful and well written piece.
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A very good, thoughtful and well written piece.
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In honor
I can understand . My X father in law was in the battle of The Hurtgen forest. Two uncle also in WW2 one in the Bulge the other in Asia. None wished to talk about it. I have a poem posted on here called' A Letter To A friend" I would like you to read it if you can. It is either in columns 4, 5 or 6 again thanks
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great job! good luck with the contest!
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I know, I know of what you write, as i have share few stories, buried in my poems, but this one is precious to me.
http://allpoetry.com/poem/show/3014456 -
Touching this is years of devotion to our men and women in miltery You have given the truth and your words rang deep into my heart.
I thank those tree soldiers as well. -
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Thank you so much for your wonderful comment and for the silver trophy...both are much appreciated.
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Congratulations...
Congratulations...
your poem has been nominated by a Divine Diva 4 Lyfe Poectic Goddess to be in the running to becoming
our Poet/Poetess of the month.
Ephiphany
Grand DiamondDiv -
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Thank you very much, Ephiphany
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I just happen
To come across this on my journey through ap
The name of the poem is what caught my eye
So thought I'd leave it a little comment!!
This was beautiful write!!!
It's a very touching!!
Congratulations on the 100th!!
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Thank you so much for stopping by in your travels. Your little comment was one of the first things I saw this morning and it warmed my heart.
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I would add 'History' to your classification on this piece, and maybe 'multimedia-linked' (watched both!) Tech note- if you want to preserve the vid's, they're in your Temporary Internet Files folder, as things come and go on youtube...
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good poem full of love and admiration.
touching to say the least.
Congratulations on 100th.
Dolores x
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Regardless of what country you are in, you must respect and appreciate the sacrifice of men and women who give up so much to protect us, and often get sent to fight battles they don't agree with because it is their job. This was a touching tribute, well done.
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So very touching and well writen. Thank You so much for commenting on my poem "the soldier" I am very pleased you liked it. I love this poem. My grandfather fought in WW2 and all my fathers before me, from the Scottish against the English, to the Revolutionary and Civil wars, Military runs in my blood, and now my Husband who is a Marine. He will be stoping by Austrailia on his way back to Iraq. God bless you and Bless your three Soldiers for their service to the freedom of mankind.
Arrianna MacEwan
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I pray that your husband stays safe. Military service is a tradition that runs through so many families...a proud tradition. My grandfather was Irish (mother's father) and my father was Scottish...husband English. I am happy that my words touched you in this way. We have a shared responsibility to make the world aware of what our men and women in uniform do...their sacrifices and how much love they have to give. My thoughts will be with you both while he is away.
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Congrats on your 100th poem. The poem itself is praiseworthy and with that green color makes it very honorable. My heart goes to all the soldiers. I said before i taught art to 'Nam soldiers in wheelchairs. My heart goes 360 when i recall that. It is exemplary for your family to be soldiers and made it. My dad was in the navy for North Korea, my GD stationed in Japan for II, my uncle in Germany for II. I love hearing their stories for sure. Congrats to the Australian and NZ troops. They make a difference.
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Thank you so much for reading my poem and for your comment. It's a shame that people can't understand that soldiers are just doing their job. I dread to think what our lives would be like if they didn't do what they do. Our two countries have the greatest amount of personal freedom and it's all because of them.
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Pearl...This write is breathtaking...I don't know any other way to explain it but breathtaking and excellently written. This was educational to me as I never knew anything about any of this. Thank you for the beautiful read and everything you have just taught me. I like this poem very much. Thanks once again for giving me something so interesting and enjoyable to read Take care
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I am happy that you gained so much from reading my words. What better compliment could I receive? Thank you sweety
Take care Evan
and your single rose is beautiful
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SIMPLY BRILLIANT SIS ! !
I don't have words to truly do this write justice. You have certainly pulled one out of the hat, so to speak, for this, your 100th poem. It touches the depths of my heart
I'm sure that it speaks loud and clearly to those who have loved ones, or have had loved ones in the Military. I applaud you to the highest degree
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Love you Jules still smiling through the tears
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I spent all week on the rifle range teaching and coaching other soldiers how to shoot more effectivly, but I proudly lay my weapons down as the power of your pen is mightier than any weapon I have ever seen and felt. You write with such pride and you honour everyone who worn the uniform with such honour. I would like to thank you for sharing this poem with me as I find it very special. A true tribute to all soldiers near and far...
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Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This means more to me than any comment or trophy I could ever receive
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Congratulations on 100th poem and what a gem it is.
Both backgrounds here are a wonderful tribute to our men who fought for us. My father was also one who served to save us and suffered internal scars that lasted long after the battles were over.
Excellent
Twinny
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My beautiful Twinny, my Tor'mentor
My first milestone and I would never have taken the first step if not for you. The one who walked beside me every step of the way.
There are really no words to say how much that means to me...thank you seems so inadequate.
Love you
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Thanks for sharing this, as tears flowed, my eyes in thoughts of soldiers that have made the sacrifices needed for and in behalf of others. Appreciate your gentle reminders,expressions in behalf of others. We need to p[ause and reflex in our daily lives and think of those that died and suffered for us.
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Thank you for your beautiful comment. I am honourd that my words could affect you in this way because it reminds me that there are people who understand and care.
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i enjoyed this greatly...it touched me for i am married to a military man and know first hand that sense of pride.....
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Great write of truth
You have done an excellent job and your truth rings with freedom for all . God help us for so much of our generation today are killing themselves off right here at home through drug abuse . When will they ever see the freedom and how they acquired it along the way . Have they thanked the soldiers that made it happen that day and today
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Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that our soldiers don't always receive the thanks that they deserve. The drug abuse is also a sad truth these days. I have been saving these words up for a long time. I have the greatest admiration for anyone who serves their country.
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i like this poem. i see that you are very passionate on the subject. even though i am not american, i am fully engaged emotionally in the war with iraq, i know about 10 soldiers who have been and will go again. a couple of my friends have died there. so in a way this poem makes me think of that... and yes... i understand it.... very good.
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Yes, I am very passionate on this subject. I have many friends in various areas of the military so I worry a lot. Fortunately they have always come home safe. I am pleased that you like my poem and thank you for your comments. By the way, your little man is beautiful, you must be so proud of him. Maybe by the time he is grown there will be no wars to fight.
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Very Very Touching
My husband is in the United States Army, and is leaving to Iraq for the 2nd time in October. I am proud of him, and I really enjoyed your poem. It is very touching.Thank you!
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Thank you for reading and commenting Tasha...I am happy that you enjoyed it. I pray that your husband returns safely to you and your daughter. You are just as brave as he is. Take care
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