We don’t often do poetry on Honest History but these two poems deserve a run. The first is from Frank Jock O’Neill, of Disabled Veterans of Australia Network. (Press article about the Network and its mission to reduce suicide rates among veterans.)
Australia’s ANZAC Tourists 2018
To Flanders fields the pollies go
In first class seats, not row on row
Lesser ones in business class; and in the sky
Staff and bureaucrats still singing bravely fly
Not heard by ANZAC dead below.
We are the politique; short Canberra days ago
We toiled, felt cold, saw summer fade
Loved and are loved; now we gladly stroll
On Parisian boulevards.
We make no quarrel with public funds
For grand plans, from needing veterans, we do take
The purse be ours to allocate as we avail, for
In contempt we break that faith, with you who die
We care not if you sleep or weep, for wounded still alive
To Flanders fields we pollies go.
FJ O’Neill
For those who do not know the original ‘In Flanders Fields’, by Canadian John McCrae, it is below, following this note about a memorial service in Fremantle soon:
***
Disabled Veterans of Australia Network supports ‘Veterans Suicide Memorial Day’ respecting our nations ‘Fallen by Suicide’
Veterans Suicide Memorial Service of reflection and healing
St John’s Anglican Church.
24 Adelaide Street, Fremantle, WA
Sunday, 3rd June, 6 pm
All welcome: Defence Members, Veterans and Public
***
In Flanders fields
In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
(The Australian War Memorial has organised a massive poppy knit.)
The other poem comes from former diplomat, Alison Broinowski, who is also Honest History’s vice president and the vice president of Australians for War Powers Reform.
Never again: Anzac Day 2018
(Copyright Alison Broinowski 2018)
No more wars of choice
Started by the Yanks
No more toys for boys
Paid by us – no thanks.
Never again they said
Never again
Never is when?
What’s the point of fights
With people we don’t hate?
Law and human rights
Trashed by our US mate.
Selling arms abroad
Just to make some dough
Yet we can’t afford
Health and schools – oh no!
No more Captain’s picks
Sending troops to war
Australians are not hicks
We know what votes are for.
No more porky pies
Making endless war
Australians won’t cop lies
We’ll show what votes are for.
Never again they said
Never again
Never is when?
13 May 2018
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