ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

A FACE IN THE CROWD.

There is a little grey haired lady
I see but once a year,
and although I’ve never met her
still to me her face is dear.

She is the little grey haired lady
who I see quietly cry,
as she watches the old veterans
go proudly marching by.

She is the little grey haired lady
with medals on her breast,
that each year she wears for someone
who now has found their rest.*

Although my little grey haired lady
perhaps will never be
any more than just a face
within the crowd to me;

When every year I see her there
I share her grief and pain,
And think about the price that’s paid
By the loved ones who remain

Vic Jefferies

(By tradition, relatives of service men and women who have died are permitted to wear their loved ones medals and service ribbons on their right breast.)

A lot of those veterans are getting old and grey too. The time does get away.

Just attended the fiftieth anniversary re-union of when we went to Vietnam. Losing lots of old mates very quickly now and hard to think of where the time has gone.

Another poignant thought Vic - lovely!

Thank you Catherine.