"CERTIFICATES TO MOUNT"

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Glenny Palmer
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"CERTIFICATES TO MOUNT"

Post by Glenny Palmer » Sat Nov 11, 2017 12:22 pm

‘CERTIFICATES TO MOUNT’
© 2010 Glenny Palmer
.
A mother gazes mutely from a humble oval frame;
a father standing staunchly by her side does much the same.
Across a room bedecked with shameless platitudes sublime,
two sons of war gaze proudly back, in uniforms of crime.
.
Two sons so keen & ready to defend our country’s shores,
two sons beguiled by despots fuelling fiscal gain through wars;
just fodder for Gallipoli, just seen as no account,
and granted for their legacy?...certificates to mount.
.
I ache for Grandma gazing from that oval picture frame,
and see within my Grandad’s eyes presumption of the shame
that banished each dear son to blood soaked clay of foreign wild,
and banished ever more, the right to see, to hold their child.
.
And yet another mother smiles within a gilded frame;
her son, in pin striped suit’s success, beside her smiles the same.
Across a room bedecked with priceless artefacts, ill won,
sublime in moral ignorance, she sees and holds her son…
.
…her son, who rose to Presidency, oils the war machine
while thumping on the dais, “…terrorism is obscene.’’
And all his human cattle don his uniforms of crime,
while he invests with confidence in terrorism’s mime.
.
Big bankers and big business…the five percent that rules
the power gods dictating a ‘democracy’ of fools,
while we, the ninety five percent, are forging on the tread
to turn their wheels with honest sweat, to keep their fodder fed.
.
And now this mother’s weeping on a wooden picture frame.
My son of war smiles proudly back entirely free of blame,
just fodder for Afghanistan, just seen as no account
by despots; and his legacy?... certificates to mount.
.
Grandma & Pa Crofts circa 1874.jpg
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The purpose of my life is to serve as a warning to others.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: "CERTIFICATES TO MOUNT"

Post by Shelley Hansen » Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:49 pm

An outstanding poetic comment on the futility of war, Glenny!

It really packs a punch!

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

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Glenny Palmer
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Re: "CERTIFICATES TO MOUNT"

Post by Glenny Palmer » Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:58 pm

Thank you Shelley. The poem sprang to life when I realised I had hung my Grandparents' old photo so that they were 'gazing' across at the Honour The Brave framed certificates of their 2 dear sons lost to the obscenity of war. :)
The purpose of my life is to serve as a warning to others.

mummsie
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Location: Tumut, NSW

Re: "CERTIFICATES TO MOUNT"

Post by mummsie » Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:49 am

A beautiful, thought provoking piece Glenny.
Tens of thousands Australian soldiers were this "fodder" that you speak of-the "enemy" were well fed. :cry:
the door is always open, the kettles always on, my shoulders here to cry on, i'll not judge who's right or wrong.

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David Campbell
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Re: "CERTIFICATES TO MOUNT"

Post by David Campbell » Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:01 am

A powerful poem, Glenny, dramatically highlighting the gulf between those who make the political decisions and those who pay the price.

Cheers
David

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Glenny Palmer
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Re: "CERTIFICATES TO MOUNT"

Post by Glenny Palmer » Tue Nov 21, 2017 12:27 pm

Many thanks David and Sue. It's one of those that I do hold dear, being written for family. :)
The purpose of my life is to serve as a warning to others.

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