Anzac Day 2020 - a poem by Rod Grant

Written on the 26th of April, 2020, this is a poem about the spirit of the ANZACS, Australia's brave soldiers who are remembered every year by the nation; even when a global pandemic meant that no one could gather at the usual memorials. From Wikipedia: "In 2020, most Anzac Day marches in Australia and New Zealand were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence of the cancellation of the service, two Army veterans, Bill Sowry and Terry James, suggested standing in front of the driveways to observe a minute of silence; and, at the same time, Justin Wilbur, the son of a Vietnam veteran, offered to light a candle as a tribute to the soldiers." In Rod's township of Yass, the "Driveway at Dawn" service gathered around a mural of the Unknown Soldier that he painted on the telegraph pole in front of the house. This became their tribute, as the sounds of the "Last Post" rang out from various musicians across the town. They shall not be forgotten. Lest we Forget. --> The Spirit of the Anzacs … Oh! … May It Never Die As we stand here in our driveways And hold our candles high Like guardians! We each stand apart And yet we stand as one, remembering all our fallen, Remembering what they've done But! Strange? No Anzac service? No march past for the 'vets'? We're 'stuck at home' in confinement To say … 'Lest we forget' What changed Australia's sacred day That we should meet this way? This 'virus' swept across our world Disrupting Anzac Day But did it kill that spirit? … I tell you true … it's 'nay! The spirit of the Anzacs is stronger now today! Sure! We've had a year of hardships; Bushfire, drought and flood But we're thinking of our 'diggers' In cold, and blood and mud In this year of twenty-twenty When Corona Virus came We stood together once again And took the Anzac name Come stand with us … in driveways Come … city … country … coast And if you can blow a bugle Stand up n' play … 'Last Post' We owe it to our fallen; Come! Play it now with pride In honour of their sacrifice And all of those who died So in our little country town Of Yass in New South Wales At 6 am the bugles rang In many times and ways A symphony united Arose from every street Of music played in honour To lay there at their feet Yes! A virus tried to stop us But this much I would bet … The Anzac spirit will live on … so cheers! … 'Lest we forget' © 2020 Rod Grant. All rights reserved. Ⓟ 2024 Coastal Country Media. <--