Last Commented Political / Social Poems (810)

Who are you? So proud and tall!
You speak of freedom, For one and all,
A wise man, It is said,
Learns by past mistake,
Are we less of a fool,
If the change we don't make?
We are not the same!
And never have been,
For all over the world,
And more we have seen!
Drawn to this land, In search of a home,
Wrapped up in it's beauty,
With our seeds now well sown,
Who is it to choose, For you or for me?
For in my own eyes, we are already free!

It was later in that year
This nation had a victory
America's cup we brought home
Good old John Bertram

I remember well that on that day
In the pub we were sitting
Shouting, yelling, sounds of joy
Our nation celebrating

In eighty four the first grandchild
Arrived to greet the world
They called her Mary after mine
This almost made me cry

Eighty five and eighty six two more arrived
Now both my kids parents were
You can imagine the joy for me
A doting grandparent

In eighty seven a first for me
My son called me from a mobile
He said he was in the bush
The reception was quite terrible

I see you smile to think of it
But back then they were quite different
Not like now so small and slim
But big and rather bulky

In eighty nine the Berlin wall
Was finally dismantled
That was the year a fourth grandchild
Was added to the family

The years pass much too quick
And I still miss my Mary
Here it is two thousand and eleven
And I've turned eighty five

Not one day do I regret
My life I've lived fully
Come the day to meet my God
Then I'll go gladly

The young man sat with eyes wide open
Respect upon his face
Though at first a bit irreverent
That had changed as the tale unfolded

The old man stopped and looked at his watch
My goodness time had flown
He only came to sit a while
Yet hours had passed away

Sowly he rose and stretched himself
And glanced at the setting sun
Time to go, The'll be waiting for me
My family is coming round

The young man stood to shake his hand
And thanked him for the tale
His life been changed by meeting him
Respect had been restored

He watched the old man slowly walk
Into the sunset light
One last turn, a wave of hand
And then he was gone

Was in seventy seven that Catherine moved
Out to the Blue Mountains
Mary went along with her
Just to help her settle

The news I saw here on TV
It happened there at Granville
The train had ploughed into the bridge
And everything was twisted

I prayed to God don't let it be
That Mary has been injured
On this train she was coming home
She'd told me how she missed me

All day they worked in the wreck
To free the dead and injured
Eighty three the count came to
And I had lost my Mary

Gone was Mary, my sweet love
The light that shone daily
Part of me had died that day
And I felt this empty yearning

The emotion was too much for him
His face was soaked in tears
He wiped a rag across his face
To hide the tears within

Slowly he composed himself
And once more brought out flask
Another sip to wet his mouth
Before he'd start again

The nation mourned as I mourned
Each in our own way
So many good people
That had died that day

I must admit my faith did falter
And I railed at God for days
How could you let this happen
You've stolen my life away

One night He spoke to me
As I wallowed in self pity
Remember the promise that was made
I will not forsake you

I can see that smile playing round your lips
You think the old man's senile
Wasn't words as such that he spoke
'Twas more like a feeling

That was the day, the turning point
And slowly I got better
I saw all that I had left
My children round me gathered

'Twas in eighty one that Catherine wed
To a man I'm proud to call son
She'd barely turned twenty four
And I wished Mary was there

Bertram had grown tall and strong
Turned twenty two that year
Brought along a lovely girl
His wife she was going to be

Was in eighty three when Bertram wed
When we had all those fires
Right across Victoria
And down to South Australia

Ash Wednesday is what they called it
Bout the worst in history
Bush burnt, animals died
And homes burnt a plenty

Our boys came back from Vietnam
No welcome home for them
Instead abuse was all they got
For shame, Australia, shame

Was in our pub that some were drinking
When people spat on them
All this for a war they fought
Where they had no choice

They served their country and gave their lives
Though many were not willing
They were conscripts not volunteers
The choice was them not given

Once again the old man stopped
And slowly shook his head
Anger mixed with sadness
Chased across his weathered face

A flask he took from inside his coat
And raised it to his lips
A sip he took then wiped his chin
Then placed it next to him

I can see what you're thinking
But I'm sorry to say
I don't drink spirits
There's water in there

Now sixty nine that was a year
It was like science fiction
Man on the moon, what next
We could hardly believe it

That day in June the nation stopped
And around their TV's sitting
Watched a man called Armstrong
Walking on the moon

We held our breath, the words he spoke
The words so well remembered
We prayed the God would guide them home
And home they safely journeyed

Nowadays it's common place
For man to go to space
No-one takes much notice
Lest disaster strikes up there

For nineteen years we waited
And watched it slowly grow
One hundred million dollars
To build the Opera House

Such pomp and ceremony
When open it they did
Gleaming white on harbour's edge
No other sight like it

Seventy three the year it was
And I'd turned forty seven
Catherine left school that year
A chef she wanted to be

She entered an apprenticeship
At a restaurant we knew well
We'd been friends for a very long time
And of her they'd take good care

We watched on our new colour TV
The sacking of Gough Whitlam
Seventy five was a shameful year
A Prime Minister this way to be treated

Fraser came in power then
No truer words were spoken
Coined the phrase on many lips
Life wasn't meant to be easy

Things got harder under him
The good times were over
Less money, less work
The economy was slowing

But Mary and I did what we did
We just carried on living
Good times or bad it mattered not
As long as we had each other

Though forty one she looked the same
To me there was no difference
Twenty years of married bliss
My love burned ever brightly

A family we were contented with life
Enjoying life day by day
Beautiful wife and beautiful kids
I had all a man could need

Was in fifty nine that Billy Graham
And his circus came to town
We thought we'd go to watch the show
To see this evangelist

People came from all around
To hear the word of God
Never before had I seen such crowds
They were packed in that day

He spoke bout sin, forgiveness too
And Jesus' love for all
So many tears, a river cried
And souls were pledged to God

Yes Mary and I we too did cry
Our lives were turned around
Our hearts we pledged to give to God
Not once did we turn back

Now we had an inner peace
That money cannot buy
No matter what life might bring
Jesus was by our side

News reports astonished were
The changes Jesus made
Half the crime had dissapeared
And crims to mend their ways

The years rolled on as time will do
And different things happened
None that spring to mind right now
As being of great importance

We lived our life quietly
And quietly we prospered
Children grow much too fast
Ours were six and eight

I remember very well
The first day of school
Mary cried to see them go
And yes, I did too

The days seemed much quieter
With no children underfoot
We missed the fun we used to have
With the children in their play

Vietnam had so much unrest
Yet no-one hardly noticed
When the call went out for our youth
They simply were conscripted

Woe to those who's birthday fell
Within the days noted
A lottery was all it was
And the winners were the losers

And sure enough in sixty six
These boys were sent to Nam
To fight a war no-one could win
To die in foreign soil

So many people against this war
Protesting everywhere
Police were called to break them up
But the message still went on

Sixty six was the year
We changed to decimal coinage
Pounds, shillings and pence
Replaced by dollars and cents

What a headache that was
Everything to change
Took us ages to train the staff
And customers made mistakes

Things settled down and we carried on
As life is wont to do
We lived a life quite comfortable
In our pub at Ultimo

The next year I worked so hard
That time just flew on past
Things that been let go too long
Like paint upon the walls

Nineteen fifty two rolled round
A year of many happenings
King George passed away
The country was in mourning

Elizabeth took up the crown
She was coronated
The King is dead long live the Queen
The sentiment was echoed

A nuclear blast of western coast
At Monte Bello Island
This weapon could destroy us all
What were the British thinking

Immigrants from far flung lands
Were arriving in our nation
Those we fought in years gone by
Now sought us out for shelter

Was in fifty three that I met her
Her beauty was astounding
Her family were immigrants
Austria they were leaving

I was barely twenty seven
And she was just nineteen
Though language was a barrier
I could not let her be

We spent the hours attempting to talk
Of this and that and other
Somehow we managed to communicate
And love slowly blossomed

Was in fifty four with heart in hand
I pledged eternal love
On my knee the question asked
Will you life's journey share

You cannot imagine happiness
Or how I felt that day
Mary agreed to be my wife
And next year to be married

In February of fifty nine
The government decided
No longer did we close at six
Till ten pm stayed open

With this came a change of face
A dining room we opened
Now they came for meal and drink
And a game of darts after

So rapidly the day drew near
The day of our marriage
Came the day my nerves were shot
I had to have a whisky

Down the aisle like floating angel
Came my sweet, sweet Mary
Veil that covered all her face
And a long train behind her

Once again the old man stopped
The look so far away
In mind's eye he saw his bride
The way she looked that day

So young was she, so beautiful
And mine forever be
I lifted veil to kiss her lips
And husband and wife were we

We settled in behind the pub
My joy knew no bounds
This I'd longed for all my life
Our souls joined as one

Such excitement we'd never seen
When fifty six rolled round
Melbourne had the Olympic Games
and we bought a TV

Spellbound we would watch this box
Such a modern marvel
Well.....back then it was
There was nothing like it

I'd barely turned thirty one
When I became a father
Catherine was the name we gave
This precious little bundle

Hair as fine as silken gold
And eyes of deep sky blue
A smile to make the angels sing
That was my little girl

When I was thirty three
A son was given me
Strong and sturdy, full of smiles
Bertram we called him

It took some time for wounds to heal
My hip's still not quite right
Released I was from duty then
I'd barely turned fifteen

My job at the pub was waiting still
And glad I was to have it
The basement's room was home to me
A retreat from worldly troubles

Things had changed, the young were gone
Was mostly old men drinking
Talk centred round the war
And how they'd do things different

They spoke of glory of 'their war'
And how they sent huns packing
They made fighting sound like fun
But somehow I knew different

I saw the face that is called war
And gazed in it's dead cold eyes
Even now sometimes at night
The memory still haunts me

Alone at night, my wireless
My only friend and companion
Affairs of war it informed me off
And how our boys were doing

It seemed those years just blended in
From one into another
The day came that changed the world
The enemy surrendered

The year was nineteen forty five
I'd barely turned nineteen
Lasting peace was promised us
A new world, young and free

Now they came to home and hearth
A hero's welcome there
Bands played and speeches made
And tears that flowed that day

Never before had George Street seen
The goings on that day
People dancing in the street
Their joy could not contain

In forty seven Bertram got sick
He was told he had the cancer
Oh, didn't I mention who Bertram was
He was the owner of the pub

Bertram like me had no-one else
No friend, no family relations
I said I'd help, I'd step in
But only till he's better

Nineteen forty eight it came
And with it brought excitement
We had built our own first car
The mighty FX Holden

Sparkling paint and gleaming chrome
It was such a beauty
Seven hundred and sixty pounds it cost
A price they said so reasonable

For two long years I ran the pub
While Bertram lay there dying
Came the day he passed away
My heart was gripped by sadness

Strict he'd been but always fair
No abuse cause of his station
Gruffness hid a kindly heart
To me he was like a father

Near eleven years this place been home
Was sad to think of leaving
Money I'd saved, for I spent naught
My needs had been quite modest

A solicitor came fore I could leave
To speak of matters legal
Bertram had left the pub to me
To be my home forever

His will spoke of many things
But one I'll always remember
I was the son he never had
And he loved me like a father

I cried that night, I don't know why
Whether I cried for him or me
I had lost my closest friend
And I'd barely turned twenty three

Now I looked with different eyes
This pub belonged to me
I would take good care of it
So proud would Bertram be

A small room was given me
Down in the basement's corner
Don't worry I had to pay
Was taken out my wages

Sometimes when work was quiet
Though that was not too often
I'd listen to the men, they talked
Bout Hitler and his cronies

Mark my word, they'd say
A big blue is brewing
Time will come when fight we must
For God, King and Country

One group that came were Irishmen
With tongues so strangely twisted
One minute singing bawdy songs
The next their fists were flying

But best of all I liked the lounge
With ladies in their fineries
My heart fast beat and palms would sweat
To watch these gorgeous creatures

The pay was low and life was hard
And yet I was contented
I had barely turned fourteen
But I felt like a man of twenty

The news from abroad was growing worse
The threat of war was imminent
Talk it turned for able men
To enlist to serve their country

The men they rushed to volunteer
With talk so load and boastful
I knew what I must do
So I went and joined, enlisted

I must admit I was quite big
And solid built by nature
No one dared to ask my age
They needed men for fighting

They trained us well, or so they said
A gun in hand they gave us
How to aim and fire them
And how to follow orders

Question not, obey was taught
All orders you must follow
Glory will be there for you
The victory was promised

Time came to leave these shores
The year was nineteen forty
Proud we were of our Brigade
The Sixteenth Australian

Off we marched with song to war
So gallant and naive
We would send them packing back
And our hands would stay quite clean

The band played and speeches made
And we were given a blessing
God speed, come back home
These words were softly spoken

Jones Bay Wharf we gathered round
And onto barges loaded
Ferried out to transport ships
The Middle East our target

At night sometimes I'd hear some cry
They missed their home and family
Never been away from home
This was to them so frightening

The journey was for most part calm
The ocean blue and sunny
Our convoy steamed relentlessly
To this land that was so foreign

Had I but never seen these shores
This land that was accursed
Truth they told not one of us
Of horror death awaiting

At this the old man paused his tale
And wiped away a tear
The memory still strong and fresh
The wounds never quite healed

I'd rather not talk too much
Of things that happened there
Twisted bodies limbs askew
The stench of death in the air

I guess I was a lucky man
A bullet sent me home
Most my mates didn't fare so well
Their grave a sandy hole

I journeyed home, we were almost sunk
By U-boats in the Straights
By grace of God we did survive
We were lucky to escape

No band this time, no speeches made
As we slunk quiet home
Was this the glory promised us
The heroes welcome home

Hey old man sitting there
So lost in thoughts of years gone by
Tell me now of things you've seen
And deeds that you have done

Smiling gently the old man nods
And scratches whiskery chin
A heavy sigh, where to begin
The tale of things that he has seen

When I was your age son, he said
The world was so much different
Every day the things you use
Back in my day not existed

I was born in my father's house
My mother died while birthing
By light of candle I first surveyed
This world that I arrived in

This place called home so far away
From town or nearest neighbour
A dusty track wound past our place
This road so barely travelled

One winter's night so wet and drear
The doctor could not travel
My sister's life was lost that night
Her death could've been prevented

How I missed her sweet smiling face
And her arms that gave me comfort
Fifteen was by far too young
To go and meet her maker

My father cold at best of times
Became so much more distant
He'd sit at night by candle light
And read naught but the Bible

When time came for school to go
I'd walk for many hours
One room that housed us all
One teacher for all the classes

A brutal man that beat us quick
Should we stray the slightest
Lessons learned the hard way
The beatings were quite frequent

After school when home I'd get
So weary from all the walking
So many chores awaited me
Would be dark before I finished

I was barely twelve when father died
In his sleep he passed away
Rest his soul dear God I prayed
With mum and sis is he

I left my home, was nothing here
No ties to bind me down
No memory of love and warmth
Not since my sister died

On my back a bag I carried
Was all I owned within
Not much to show for my short life
Two shirts and a cardigan

I aimed my sights for Sydney Town
It would take me many weeks
Blisters on my weary feet
And holes in soles worn thin

Here and there for a day or two
Some work I would find
Those were times when I would eat
My hunger then appeased

Most nights I'd sleep under stars
Came rain or clear night sky
Sometimes when my luck was in
I'd find a warm dry barn

The closer I came to Sydney Town
The sights that met my eyes
Buildings tall and stately stood
And people everywhere

Never before had I seen such sights
These buildings reached for sky
And a thing they called electricity
To make the lights burn bright

The flick of a switch would turn a room
From night time into day
And streets were lit by lights so bright
They almost hurt the eyes

Hard I looked for work to find
And many days I starved
Often there on lonely nights
No comfort to be found

Finally my luck it changed
Employment I did find
Washing floors and toilets too
In a pub at Ultimo

Saturdays they were the worst
With vomit on the walls
The smell so bad you'd want to puke
But still you'd do the job

What is freedom? what a question
Means so many different things
Freedom means the right to choose
Of how and where to live your life
You get the choice of your life's mate
And choices of religion
But the one thing freedom does not give
The right to be downright rude to others
Tread gently friends, through this life
Remember to be nice to each other
A kind word means so much more
Then one spread in anger