Midnight Cenotaph

[Ron]

Midnight Cenotaph.

A cenotaph, that could well be, in any Australian town,
Beckoned me on midnights crown: by a symbolic flame that burned within
And there the hair raised on my skin
As next to me so grave and thin
Stood an old digger of rigid chin, sad eye and wistful frown.

He spoke then in a voice of soul, to ‘never glorify war!’
Those words of cognition raw: there spoken aural borne as to evoke
A stream of solemn tears that choke
As if war victims blood did soak
All his memories! silently bespoke, of horrors that he saw!

His words transfixed as then he told, how too much Hollywood
Had misplaced, misunderstood: the legacy of wars affliction decreed
As truth would never dare impede
The hero’s win at record speed
Who atop would stand for dollars greed; silent graves of the good!

And those survived of broken mind, and spirit not intact
Shake their heads of brazen act: to wonder wherefore is honours demand,
And why documentaries planned
Of rehabs. maimed and burned, were banned
And the traumatised all classed offhand, by those who would detract!

Don’t tarnish, don’t commercialise the ultimate sacrifice!
Was his message, his advice: as, is not the wont of powers that be,
For damage done to what degree
To the regs. or naive draftee
They do not account, instead foresee, as numbers to suffice!

He vanished then, in silent flight, an apparition I had seen,
Who rejoined in spectral scene: the ghosts of ranks assembled, thousands strong
Whose flesh and blood did once belong
Upon this earth until the wrong
Of wars vile and tuneless sullen song, did humanity demean!

© Ron Boughton
Oct. ‘14

[Ron]

Thanks Matt, appreciate the comments mate and thanks for taking the time.

Ron

[Heather]

It's funny that you should write that today Ron. I was listening to an interview on the radio today of a fellow who had interviewed returned soldiers from Gallipoli and their message to him was not to glorify what happened there. They were embarrassed to have retreated and ashamed to have left over 8000 mates on Turkish soil.

Heather

[warooa]

Yes Heather . . . something we all should keep in the forefront of our minds whilst, as a nation, we embark on an orgy of centennial commemorations in the coming months as years, whilst tip-toeing into yet another open-ended conflict in a foreign land.

Fantastically written, Ron. One to revisit time and again.

Cheers, Marty

[Ron]

Thanks for the replies Heather & Marty.

Sounds like perfect timing Heather!

Pleased that you enjoyed it Marty,
Thanks mate.

Ron