Mad Poets Society – May 2019

By The Bribie Islander Magazine

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Poems. Riddles. Rhymes. Lyrics. Poets. Poetry

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Tags: Poetry. Poems. Poets

JUST BREATHE

I take it for granted for some it is a matter of life or death.

For me it is my mantra within my head.

I thank God that I did not succeed.

Just breathe Just Breathe tattooed on my wrist.

Permanent reminder. I do not take things for granted.

I’m alive. Able to breathe on my own, my choice.

Be yourself, be gentle and kind to myself.

Love myself, and forgive myself.

Just breathe

In another time and in another place.

Soft breeze on my cheek; an angel’s kiss.

I hear the ocean; the waves have a song of their own.

The gulls are soaring above me; they are free.

Life is good. The kids are playing and laughing they are safe.

Close my eyes and visualize and take control

Just Breathe

By Kerry Chapman

BRIBIE IN THE WAR YEARS.

Bribie featured in the war, in a most unusual way,

They thought the “Japs” would come in here,

So arrangements were all made.

Apparently, MacArthur said, ”We can’t save all Australians”.

Their men are fighting far away, I know, we’ll give them portions!

Thus it was “the Brisbane Line”

Was thought a good solution,

It went from Bribie to the top,

And south would stay Australian.

But still, activity went on, two naval guns, Caloundra.

Fort Bribie housed the ‘Yanks” and gear, and locals made them welcome.

Soon the headlines did appear, “Japan strikes hard at bases,

“ Nauru, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hawaii, then they landed in Malaya.

And crippled “Yankee” bases.

The Japanese planes bombed up north,

they flattened Darwin down,

Ninety-three enemy planes in all,

First contact with our towns.

Meanwhile, on Bribie, they heard it all,

and knew that things were hazy,

They built a hospital underground and waited for invasion.

Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea fell,

and “Japs” came for our land,

Just two hundred troops were stationed here,

in mosquito-riddled sand.

They called Bribie, “Fort Hell”. And couldn’t wait to leave,

But locals did their washing and sewed things on their sleeves.

They couldn’t walk along the beach. or swim in waters cool,

They waited for the bombs to fall, to swim would be a fool.

Finally, the threat was gone,

And all the “Yanks” went home the forty locals left behind,

Waited for loved -ones return.

‘Cause there were evacuations except the forty here

But they played a part in history, which we can never share.

by Lurline Thomson

REAL ACCOUNT FROM FRANK SIMPSON, COUNCILLOR FROM 1945/ 1943 AND 1946/1952.

These were truly depressing times for our century. Almost all families lost loved ones., in the bitter struggle. The cream of both nations on both sides was ruthlessly slaughtered, so it was not comforting, in these circumstances, to read in the paper,” glorious Victory, trifling losses.” Perhaps the most critical period was when the “Japs” were bearing down on us., It was then that the “Brisbane Line “, was arranged.

Our Shire Councillor distributed evacuation forms. All cattle, horse and livestock were moved south-west out of Japanese hands. Australians should think deeply, and access how near we were to being under Japanese control., and we should realise how our country could be threatened again.

by Lurline Thomson

THE HOLOCAUST – REMEMBRANCE (A DANISH ACCOUNT)

I’m a war survivor, I’ve seen The worst men do.

I’ve been to HELL and back again, I’ll tell my tale to you.

My family, they were Danish Ann-Marie is my name, I had a lovely family

But now they are all gone

It was the third year of occupation

When people disappeared Mrs Hirsh, the grocer and

Many, many more indeed I didn’t worry at the first

My Pappa was a teacher

But in reprisals for resistance

Things soon got even grimmer

We wore yellow stars pinned to our coats

Our businesses shut down

We were “Relocated” And Nazis ruled our town

Some brave people hid us

At the risk of their own lives

But still, the transports headed

East It was a bad surprise

Some brave fishermen

Put false bottoms in their boats

They saved 7,000 Jewish people

From camps of certain death

Through it all King Christian

Though surrendering, bravely led

His people through the dark times

To better times ahead

And now as we remember

The Jews from everywhere

That died with all the others

We need to show we care

by Lurline Thomson


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