the ex-military swagman

[croc]

The ex military swagman…

He’ll wake up fitful where he’s slept
to thank a god whose soul he’s kept,
then rinse the night time tremors
from his mind and greet the day.
He’ll raise his eye up to the sky,
and once again he’ll see on high
the vision in the cloud displaying
nature’s rich array.
Then in a while he’ll face the drought
and wander on, still further out
he’ll lay his rations round about,
mix up a damper stiff and stout,
and watch an old dog dingo
as it slinks around it’s prey.
He’ll make a fire of leaf and stick,
fan spiral smoke up white and thick,
while tiny flames dance freely…
pyrotechnical ballet.
Bore water fills his billy can,
the damper fills the frying pan…
he’ll drink a cup, a bite or two,
and then be on his way.
He’ll roll the bluey, pack the swag,
a worn out war time service bag,
his name etched bold… his old dog tag,
for those who fell he’ll fly the flag
and walk the tracks of freedom
they had bought with blood as pay.
He’ll tread his steps with measured stride,
retain impressions, hard to hide,
of friends he’d made on battle grounds
ere they were swept away.
A violence paid with wanton slaughter
on a beach; there in the water
ebbs a bloodied windswept tide,
a shambled seething ghoulish bay
of death… and surely he asks why
his comrades fell in battle cry.
He’ll walk his day with bee winged eye,
at night he’ll face the western sky
and watch the eve draw in the sun,
and then he’ll kneel to pray.

In hours of darkness spent alone,
he’ll pray for those beneath the stone,
his mates who paid with blood and bone;
the ones who fell… who died alone
back there at Suvla Bay.
© croc…

[Neville Briggs]

croc's had a good go at the ballads, Glenny. I hope he doesn't mind me mentioning that we remember that the NZ in ANZAC stands for New Zealand.

[Maureen K Clifford]

The master at work - what a delight to read this

Pyrotechnical ballet Fabulous rhyme, love it

[David J Delaney]

Yes! I picked up that to Maureen, fantastic, for it's one of those words that could snap one's tongue in half

I'll definately buy the book Glenny....

[Glenny Palmer]

Hey Neville, I think croc will be delighted at your NZ observation as he spent a major part of his growing up & adult life there....it's just that he loves Australia soo much.

Thanks Maureen & David. croc doesn't say, but I can see he's tickled pink at your replies. (I think there's a glitch or two in this one so I'm getting hives in case I've posted a draft that wasn't 'the final'. There are so many more of his poems scattered around in my pc than I realised, & I'm only halfway through collating them for Zondrae....I've got a feeling I'm gunna find the 'final' in there. Oh well...if/when I do I'll fix it.....ssshhh. don't tell him....)

PS I'll set aside the first book off the press for you David.

Goodnight all...
Glenny

[manfredvijars]

... this is one of my favs ....

[Glenny Palmer]

Goodonya Mannie. It might be a suitable one for you to perform? I reckon it suits your style, & your voice. Everyone probably knows it's me posting croc's poems (with permission of course). As I trowel through them for the book I get inspired to share different ones, as croc's fingers have difficulty with the keyboard these days. But it's nice to remember 'the good old days' when his poems (not to mention his rants) entertained us all. Ta again Manfred.
Cheeers
Glenny

[Catherine Lee]

Love this poem - have just read it four times - thank you Glenny and Croc!

[Glenny Palmer]

Thank you Catherine. So glad you enjoyed it. (croc says 'ta' too.) I plan to include this one in his upcoming book 'The World According To Croc'. It will be a mixture of his poems, with that unique turn of phrase he has, & a story or two, & a few of his very funny exchanges with that mischievous 'Joeleene', lifted from the old website.

Cheeers
Glenny Palmer

[Irene]

I am so looking forward to buying a copy of Croc's book - love his work!!
Thanks for getting sidetracked on your search of his poems, and posting some for us to re-read Glenny!!!

Catchya
Irene