Shades
APoem For ANZAC Day
25 April 2015
One hundred years on and
Old enemies are now friends
So often the way of the world
After conflicts ends.
And that War
To End All Wars
Just laid the foundations
For so many more.
From Suvla Bay to Basra,
To our modern days,
The world remains ruled by
Ever more aggressive ways.
Do the shades of the fallen
From a Valhalla somewhere
Look at the turning world
And sigh with despair.
Was their sacrifice wasted:
Were any lessons learned;
Did the people benefit
From any victory earned.
Do they draw the curtains
Shut out the view
Very little changes
Very little is new.
One hundred years further on
A very different where and when
May greet those restless shades
With curtains drawn back again:
A new world maybe emerged
With conflicts all long done,
That War To End All wars
Having finally been won.
I hasd the honour of reading this to the congregation at the ANZAC Day Rembrance Service in Hull 2015. The Australian High Commissioner and a Senior AAF were in attendance. It was written fr the occasion
Copyright © Terry Ireland | Year Posted 2023
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