"ANZAC 2026"
A faint drift of camp‑smoke moves across the oval
as neighbours gather in a loose ring,
boots scuffing dew‑dark grass.
Someone reads from an old diary,
paper soft at the folds,
its words settle over us
like a weather front passing slow across the range.
The march is smaller this year,
but each step lands with its own weight.
Kids lean from verandas with cardboard poppies,
a brass line warms the air near the cenotaph,
and the crowd parts gently
so, an older man can steady himself
before placing a wreath cut fresh from his yard.
By afternoon the town thins back into its rhythms—
shops half‑open, dogs restless at the fence.
A few of us stay near the memorial garden,
letting the day breathe out around us,
aware of how these gatherings
shape the way we carry our shared work forward
long after the bugle has faded.
.
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Author:
crypticbard (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: April 25th, 2026 05:44
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 8
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship
- In collections: 2026.
Offline)
Comments4
A poem that commemorates a time when valor and patriotism meant something, when men were proud to wear a uniform and die for God and family. The sun has faded on that era and only a few lame remain. Very nicely written my friend
Those days are indeed gone. Now we carry only memories🙏🏻🕊️
Moving piece. Love "letting the day breathe out around us." This work crawls softly along and has its own elegance. Great piece.
Thanks, Katie B. Most grateful to you🙏🏻🕊️
Voice of dissent here, Rik.
The pontification and hypocrisy which goes with Anzac day is right over the top. And if you read or saw the News, the dawn services the parades and the two up games were larger than ever. Focus on WW1 And WW2, no mention of Vietnam or any of the other conflicts around the world. The proposition that Gallipoli somehow turned or solidified Australia as a nation is being plugged again.
Nicely written, your poem honors those who have served, promotes community bonds, and reflects on the significance of remembrance in shaping identity and collective history.
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