ANZAC DAY

Another day comes and goes and it is in memorium
that I remember my father.
At last there is hope for our troops to return
From a misguided and misjudged war
Where we followed our so called 'Ally' into
the valley of darkness.

He, my father said, before his demise, that, on this day
as he marched up George St in Sydney each year
"You would never get to meet such a bunch
of pacifists anywhere, ever!"
They forgot to tell us.

And so the day has become a rabble rousing ruse
That makes a young nation stir
through the commercialisation and the nonsense
Some of us remembers to remember
"Lest We Forget".
Coz we did.

To dad and your mates,
To my grandfather in the past,
To my brother being called up for the
"Un-popular War"
I am sorry we forgot
And marched once again into the
Valley of thunder.

I was going to go to a service today
Because of our change of Government and heart.
But the nonsense blocked my way
The disrespect and 'Americanisation of Emily'
(ie of our National day)
brings me to my knees once again
And I long for the time when we did it
The Australian Way.

Quietly, singularly, with a sob in our singing
of "Abide With Me" and "Lord Of Our Father's"
For even as an Atheist it moves me
To remember...ANZAC DAY
A day we lost, a day of failure, a day of thanksgiving.

LEST WE FORGOT!!