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