THE OLD MAGPIE

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID

 AS HE GAZED DOWN ON THE POPPIES, IN OUR GARDEN BED

YOUR FLOWERS THEY BEND IN TRIBUTE, TO THE SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT

THE OLD MAGPIE SAID

 

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID

YOUR SEEDS WERE SOWN WITH LOVING CARE, WHEN THE WINTER FROST HAD FLED

THE WEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN CAST ASIDE, NOW LEAVE YOU IN GOOD STEAD

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT

THE OLD MAGPIE SAID

 

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT THE OLD MAGPIE SAID 

FRAGILE PETALS WILTING, CRUSHED BY THE SOLDIERS TREAD

NOW THEY PAUSE IN SILENCE AS SOLEMN WORDS ARE SAID

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT,

 THE OLD MAGPIE SAID

 

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID

EACH YEAR YOUR BLOOMS REMIND US, OF ALL THE BLOOD THEY SHED

FOR GLORY AND THE EMPIRE, LIKE LEMMINGS THEY  WERE LED 

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, 

THE OLD MAGPIE SAID

 

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID

LET YOU NOW GROW IN PEACE, FAR FROM THE MORTAL DREAD

FOR SOLACE WHEN ONCE ACHIEVED, HANGS BY A SLENDER THREAD

YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT,

 THE OLD MAGPIE SAID

 

By Tomas ‘Paddy’ Hamilton
22 October 2018

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CAPTION: In celebration of their mascot, the Australian magpie, No. 75 Squadron applied a black and white commemorative paint scheme to F/A-18A Hornet A21-018. The aircraft will sport the new colour scheme ahead of the squadron’s transition to the F-35A Lightning II in 2022. The squadron adopted the magpie because it is a belligerent defendant of its young with the courage to attack. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.

 

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