Saturday 25 April 2015

100 years from now

A Hundred Years From Now

When the playing of the bugle sent a shiver down my spine 
When I felt a sense of duty and stepped up to join the line
A song was sung, my heart was young, the ship it sailed away
When my mother stood there crying and I had no words to say 
When I wore my country’s coat of arms to pledge a solemn vow
I didn’t think they’d honour me a hundred years from now 

When I landed in an ambush on that distant foreign shore 
When I saw the bullets flying and I heard the canon roar
I turned my head, my friend lay dead, it happened so damn fast
When I made it through the mayhem of that terrifying blast
When I managed to survive that day…still I don’t know how
I didn’t think they’d tell the tale a hundred years from now 

When the battle raged forever and adversity was rife
When the courage and the sacrifice were daily facts of life 
As darkness fell, it seemed like hell, but mateship got us through
When nothing else made any sense… that’s the flag we flew 
When thoughts of home revived my strength and wiped my bloody brow
I didn’t think they’d call me ‘brave’ a hundred years from now 

When I felt a chill that morning – when my heart beat like a drum
When the captain gave his orders and I knew the time had come
No glory there, just pure despair, my best is what I gave 
When they wrote ‘lest we forget’ upon the headstone of my grave
When, beside my cross, the children of the future stop to bow
My spirit will remain alive a hundred years from now 

When the playing of the bugle sends a shiver down your spine
When you realise that your qualities are just the same as mine
From dreamtime land to coastal sand, the city to the sprawl 
When the essence of my legacy unites Australians all 
When Anzac legend shines a light on all who make that vow
With pride, the world will know their name a hundred years from now

Rupert Mc Call, OAM


This poem has been commissioned by the Australian War Memorial as part of the commemoration of 100 years since that tragic day when Australian and New Zealand forces landed at a small bay (now known as Anzac Cove) on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. It will be recited at a couple of ANZAC day services today in my home town, Brisbane and then taught in Australian schools.  

On this day we honour all the men and women who have participated in wars, conflicts and peacemaking operations around the world as well as those men and women still serving in the Defence Forces today.  

Ceremonies are being held at war memorials throughout Australia and New Zealand and in places overseas where Aussies and Kiwis gather. 
I remember my great-uncle Martin Murphy, who returned home from WW1 a very damaged man.
   
 We will remember them

11 comments:

  1. This is a very moving poem. These horrors should never be forgotten if they are then the sacrifice was in vain.

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  2. What a lovely poem! A beautiful tribute for Anzac Day. Have a happy weekend!

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  3. Love this poem, it says it all.

    Wish you a beautiful weekend Pauline!
    Tinna ✐

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  4. The poem brought a lump to my throat. War isn't real to many of the generation of children born now who may never know anyone who lived through the horrors of a World War. Every opportunity we have to remind people of the true horrors of war has to be a good thing.

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  5. A blessed and beautiful ANZAC Day to you. May we never forget their sacrifices.

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  6. Such a lovely poem. May we never forget.

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  7. May we send our men and women to only necessary wars that will result in a more peaceful world. If we did that, we may never have to send them to war.

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  8. So many people had relatives in the great war it shows how many of our young people were involved. We will remember them.

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  9. Gallipoli was a disaster from start to finish. It is now recognised as such.

    Except of course, it was even more of a disaster for all the brave men who went into a battle lost before it was begun and heroically gave their lives.

    We will remember them.

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  10. hello there Pauline, thanks so much for your comment at my blog, nice to meet another kiwi Mangawhai blogger :-)

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  11. That poem is wonderful!

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