ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

This is an early poem which I haven't posted before. It won 1st in the Emerging poet section at Boyup Brook in Februrary 2011. It is also on the International War Veterans' Poetry site. It's a poem I love to read to an audience because of the reaction I get to it.

I'm really thrilled that this poem was recently taken to France and read on the battlefields by a group of school children from WA - thanks to Dave Smith. I wish I could have been there to hear it.

Yeah heather I read this one on the war vets site liked it then and still do , I can see why it would get a good reaction.


Bob

Thanks Bob. I first read it at Toolgani - all those years ago!

Heather

An oldey but a goodey Heather - I bet that bought a tear to more than a few eyes in France. Good on Dave for organizing it.

I should mention that one of Dave's poems was read in France too - or possibly Gallipoli. Unfortunately we didn't know which day they were being read or where exactly.

Heather

Applause..for Heather.

It's a very moving poem, Heather, one that could easily have taken out the open section of a competition. I'd be interested to know why you added those final two lines instead of finishing with "and the poppies dance".

David

Thanks David. I'd have loved to have entered it in an open comp and have hung on to it all this time (nearly 3 years) with that in mind - BUT, when I approached one competition and told them it had won an emerging section it was all too difficult for them to decide if it was eligible for the open section of their comp so it wasn't allowed. Secondly, in my ignorance I allowed it on a website which means it is published - so there are very few places left for me to put it now so after nearly 3 years I've let it go.

Why did I decide to add the two lines? The poem is in two parts if you like - the battlefields and back home. I thought the last two lines ended it on a sad and reflective note and represent the sadness and loss to the family.

When I read it I almost do the last two lines in a whisper. The bits about the battlefield I read louder. It's a poem I like to present using my voice to convey the emotion.

Heather

Yes a lovely poem Heather.

Cheers Terry

Thanks Terry, very much.