A bugle in the frosty dawn,
each note hanging in the air,
then falling into silence
like the guns did, over there.
A voice recites a poem,
the vast crowd standing hushed;
every head is bowed,
every soul is touched.
Soon the men will march,
their memories aflame,
their banners held aloft,
each battle has a name.
And we who watch will know
that what we have was born
in blood and sacrifice,
on that first grim Anzac morn.
Photo from Pexels by Pixabay
I see the old men march,
who survived the times of war,
beneath their proud-held banners
from so many different corps.
I see bright companionship
shining in their eyes;
they’re marching to remember
those who fell and could not rise.
We salute them once again
and pray that never more
young men will have to go
a-marching into war.
Photo by Pixabay
They fought for freedoms we hold dear
And paid an awful price.
They faced the foe and conquered fear
To make their sacrifice.
Today we honour those who died,
And others who returned,
Who with their fellows, side by side
True comradeship had learned.
May all who love Australia fair,
Both here and far away,
Ourselves aspire to gladly serve
Through sacrifice today.
Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #17 ‘Lest we forget’.Author Comment: It’s fitting that we honour the courage and sacrifice of past generations of Australian service personnel and citizens, but I believe our nation’s future largely depends on how we personally respond to their example in meeting the challenges facing our society today.
Australian Children’s Poetry 