Sunset at the Perth War Cemetery
Calm evening. The sky’s colours
Change as clouds move in the breeze.
I walk past neighbours' children playing,
suburban hedges, flowers and trees.
There are birds here I love, willy-wagtails,
swooping and darting in the twilight day.
Traffic nearby. Not a funereal silence,
but rather sounds of life not far away.
I came here with my mother first. Then later
she bought a house nearby. I walk here still.
There are new names, new rows of plaques
And new blank walls to fill.
Will wars and terror end before the plaques
fill the last wall here? I think we know
the answer. So carry on. And there
bright parrots flash across the glow.
* * *
One Anzac Day my mother and I
walked through Perth, she in her Nurses’s cape,
after the march. I saw with apprehension
a crowd of drunks. I looked to escape
as they sprawled out of a pub, a couple fighting.
(My boarding-school had taught me fear
at eight years old). I tugged at her sleeve,
Urged her to cross the road as we drew near.
They were loud, had bottles, and were staggering,
blocking all the pavement ahead.
I pulled harder at my mother’s sleeve.
“Oh, they’re all right,” she said.
She walked on. The brawling old diggers
stood bare-headed at Attention till she passed,
some with hands on hearts, some saluting,
“Why are they doing that?” I asked.
* * *
I think I know the reason now.
I place three poppies: one for my own dead,
One for a hero I knew, one at random.
The West is glorious in gold and red.
Green lawns, gardens, happy people
in houses round. No need for words
under this sunset sky. I should have had
some crumbs to feed the birds.
A contest entry
- TELL ME A STORY; SING ME A BALLAD by CelticQueen.
1500 points, ended February 3, 11 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Military by HopelessScribbles.
675 points, ended February 16, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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very gentle and nice to read as I too often go and sit where our veterans rest in peace, thank you for this entry..
MM
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so beautiful this is to me. I was transported.
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Brilliant
Great narrative power. Your descriptions are so vivid that they stick to our mind even after a cursory reading...but the beauty of it is that one is tempted to re-read this many times to capture the entire significance, through small details. Very well written. Congrats and best regards!
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I'm not sure this fits into the ballad form, but it does in spirit, telling the story of one incident outside the cemetary at Perth.
Thank you for entering my contest.
celtic queen -
Nice.
I'm a bit confused about where the name in the last line fits...
There's something about a memorial that demands/requires focus and allows the mind to dwell upon the sacrifice and be grateful for the beauty. You've done a nice job of describing the feel of this scene.
Paul
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The name on the last line is my real name and was left on by accident. I have now removed it. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
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A very nice remembrance. A lovely a vivid poem. You catch detail so very well. 
, Dannie
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