KHAKI

[alongtimegone]

Khaki

Few among them knew the name Gallipolli
no crystal ball foretold the hell it spawned
but in the misty dawn of 25-04-15
the legend of the ANZACs would be born.

standing tall in khaki pride
he held his wife and newborn son
don’t worry love be back real soon
we’re gonna make them jerries run

the women waved tear streaked farewells
from wharves as troop ships steamed away
and crossed horizons far from home
to face the trials of unknown day

excitement written in their smiles
proud and brave and some so young
they sang ‘Australia Will be There’
and to the winds their voices flung

no notion no suspicion
of the fate their journey faced
as on that fear filled morning
into fiery hell they paced

and in that violent misty dawn
sixteen thousand heroic hearts
stormed a friendless beachfront
for king and country do their part

their bravery knew no backward step
as lacking grit to see it through
would be to turn their back on mates
and no such thought would they pursue

for eight long mud and blood filled months
they dug their trenches fought their fight
and dreamt sweet dreams of those at home
morning noon and haunted night

the mettle of each beating heart
for eight long months was tested
too many souls would not return
by the time the guns were rested

so far beyond imaginings
that nightmare task was set
sixty thousand heroes
“Lest We Forget’

Few among them knew the name Gallipolli
no crystal ball foretold the hell it spawned
but in the misty dawn of 25-04-15
the legend of the ANZACs would be born.

[r.magnay]

good stuff mate, we can only imagine what it was like.

[Ron]

Good poem Wazza, and with some very sad and sobering lines. And as Ross says 'we can only imagine'.
Cheers
Ron

[alongtimegone]

Thanks Ron and Ross. Yes unimaginable. The trauma of war.
Wazza

[Maureen K Clifford]

That's nicely done Warren - a fitting if sad tribute . You can sense the optimism of those brave young men

[alongtimegone]

Thanks Maureen. With a sense of adventure into what became a horror.
Wazza

[Maureen K Clifford]

A sense of horror indeed - one that they never forgot and one that sadly their own sons, grandsons, and great great grandsons also possibly had to endure - Nothing has been learnt except perhaps how to kill more effectively and in larger numbers which is bloody horrifying. For people who consider themselves to be educated and progressive it beggars belief to see the terrible destruction that we are still unleashing on others who share the world with us.

[alongtimegone]

So true Maureen. There's no answer and probably will never be one.
Wazza