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
