#116 - a wreath for the dawn

25.4.20

116

a wreath for the dawn

solemn suburban

defend my driveway with a bugle

shoot the fascists where they stand

a Bible took the bullet, God did

because we’d have been overrun

it is a simple fact – bombs fell

deliver us from evil

defend for me the rights of a human

can I do these things myself?

or is it follow the madman?

is it glory to obey?

we are this ‘we’

of bright new day

proud, unwished

remember

who stole the country

how noble were they

who made Australia white

think of a troopship leaving Bombay

makes for a fatal shore

but not today

all quiet now

none so sacred as ourselves

under heavy bombardment

here, let me eulogize a little

pay respects

where they are due

think of the doctors and teachers

gave their all, are risking lives now

think of the scholars who dared to doubt

and asked all the right questions

science that found the way, our way

fearless, and I say, that’s who we are

it wasn’t the footy player

no!

it wasn’t industry’s captain…

think of the painter, the story, the play

think of the composer

remember the farmer who fed us

think of the nurse who nursed

inventors, in their sheds with a spark

my heroes – none with bomb, gun, sword

yes – they need protecting

and who was it let the country burn?

who has given and what?

who was it playing ‘follow the leader?’

imagine a raffle for every fresh weapon

think of a noose for whoever sells death

yes – shoot the fascists where they stand

if we don’t stand up, all fall

and lead us out of contradiction

deliver us from weasels

don’t we so love

to speak for the fallen?

it keeps opinion in the past

lest we reflect

on how we have followed imperial orders

go to woe

stand up

walk into the enemy’s fire

they are so many to our bravery

we waltz through singing

considering dinner

the drama of class

and colour and distance 

hold a silence for me, will you

have a biscuit please

consider the kitchen

think of who cooked

drown in a puddle

and the cops look on

no magic pudding –

who’ll choose starvation

lest we reflect

and find ourselves wanting

after the big ra ra

this is the one year of our day

all for uniqueness

for everyone with flag and anthem

in living memory they say

no day like this before

there is no tribe like ours

for duty

will the distancing protect

far countries from us now?

lest we forget

kicked over a cliff

who’s less than human?

shoot the fascists!

die for what?

you tell me, ghost

it’s always a ghost leads into battle

remember the massacres now

a bounty for the coppers too

see them chained –

think Rottnest Island

(a lovely holiday for you)

wide brown stolen

remember that

never ceded an inch

fought for as if an empire right

all this self-worship

lest we reflect

on the secret war we’ve made our home

who did the rapes?

who poisoned the wells?

it’s never the blood of the others that’s holy

narcissist nation –  

where is our shame now?

let’s hammer a last post

into the vampires

who whitened the lies?

rode the sheep?

who came down in the last shower?

who was it pulled wool over our eyes?

there’s a big dollar waves over the air

covers the coffin

all salute

my father was a soldier too

he wouldn’t march with the drunks

the oh-so-solemn

none so holy as our hearts in drink

but mustn’t think like that today

of all days – mustn’t think

lest we doubt how right you are

it’s keep believing

else white ant the fence and fall

fifth column

entertain a doubt

track down

lest dissent

don’t forget diggers

who do themselves in

left to own devices

some still sleeping rough

on the streets

probably not sleeping much

tear up

you crocodile hypocrites

here’s more holy than a drought

lead me on to the next oily war

or will it be the love of coal

that sets the world on fire

seventy years at Uncle Sam’s bidding

shine up your badge

polish the bugle

consider those now seeking asylum

fleeing, persecution, war

locked up at our majestic pleasure

what if we don’t have a driveway?

what if I rust in my car?

died for what?

who’ll call the madness?

cheer up my lads

we’re only just

following orders again

there would have been an invasion for sure

we had to defend

still

shoot the fascists where they stand

conscript your pacifists

sniffing at the arse of an empire

unflinch

run up this little hill

into the cannon  

you can’t see round corners

need a big friend

why?  

because we are no one

still manage to lift a leg

and all the farm’s on fire

and that was the last post

class –

there are just two words

I want to hear today

those words are

NEVER AGAIN