Kiwi Konexions: ANZAC
New Zealanders and Australians today celebrate ANZAC Day - a day to commemorate the citizens of both countries who were killed in war, and to honour returned servicemen and women.
Glen Taylor, who lives in South Island, New Zealand, has written a special poem for this solemn day,
Answering their country's call,
"To arms against the savage foe,"
They come from every corner
Of the loyal commonwealth.
Not thinking of their personal loss,
Nor of their loved ones, on home shores,
They hasten to that war, they said
Would be the end of all the wars.
Zealous to a man they were,
Filling troop ships by the score.
Sailing off for foreign parts,
Adventure stirring in their hearts.
At Anzac Cove, their dreams were ended.
Turkish soldiers, well defended,
With gun shots mowed them down,
Those soldiers of the crown.
Crowded close, their bodies fell.
And, yet, it's surely true to tell,
That there, among the milling dead,
each man died alone, in dread.
"The price is paid, the battle's o'er."
On Anzac Day, we bare our head,
Remembering our forgotten dead.
While other soldiers will still fall
In other wars to end them all.
