Eric Bogle - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.
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.”
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Have we nothing learned of anything
As the years do come and fly?
Those men who lie in Flanders Fields,
Did they really have to die?
That was the war to end all wars
But we have nothing learned
We have fought again so many times
And bravery medals earned.
The Mothers gazed at photographs
Of their sons so brave and tall,
As they wiped the tears from their eyes
And remembered when they were small.
The knock at the door which brought the news
And told them what they already knew,
That their boys had paid the ultimate price
And they knew what they must do.
They went on with their lives and proudly waved
As the next generation marched away,
They held in their hearts the dreadful ache
And watched at the dawn of the day.
The years have passed and still they march
With the pride of their country their aim.
It’s not just a war but terrorism they fight
And freedom the thing that they claim.
They are young and full of life
And this the core of their story
That many come home – welcomed it’s true
But draped in their country’s glory.
We no longer leave them where they fall
We try to bring them home
We bury them in familiar ground
And no more will they roam.
The medals they won and the uniforms,
The letters and love from their heart
We have learned nothing from Flanders Fields,
It’s just like it was at the start.
© Linda J. Vaughan
June 19th. 2006
Celebrating Anzac Day and honouring all who have served or are still currently serving.
We salute you.
No comments:
Post a Comment