War and Peace
Since Queensland separated from NSW in 1859, its poets have dealt with war, first as part of an empire, then as an expression of Australian nationalism. Often poems before a war look forward to the involvement of our armed forces; too often the poems written during and after war reflect on its terrible cost.
Click on the poem titles in the table below to read some of the best early Queensland poetry of military themes.
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A Turkish Boy Surveys the Scene
2022
By Zora Cross ‘They were so young,’ my father says, "so brave—The whistling brown men from the far away.Foemen by Allah! worth a fighting dayAs they...
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At Lytton
1902
by Mary Hannay Foott Past the Fort on the fairway, where river and sea are met, Like new stars risen on the hillside, the Bushmen's fires are set,...
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At Toowong
1922
by Emily Bulcock Unveiling of Anzac Memorial, Sunday July 2, 1922 They met to honour the brave young dead, Where a noble shaft rose high! In the...
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Australia in England
1918
by Zora Cross He called….The quiet nurse stole to his side, Seeing how with his hands he strove to hide Dull tears, that from his mother's breast...
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Barbaric Night
1944
by Howarde Tilse From the distant village Comes the throb of a native drum, And savage voices Chanting through the trees. A full moon Crystalises...
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Blue
1919
by Peter Austen The blue waves break along the shore, How blue, how blue the summer skies! Somewhere in France two brave blue eyes Lie closed for...
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Brownout
1945
by Peter Miles You’re the tight twist in my heart when lost gulls of paperboys cry in a brownout, you are the lights of my vanishing home and my...
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Cenotaph
1941
by Howarde Tilse Death leers from the jungle – mockingly, And smiles all-knowing from the skies: With bony hands outstretched, caressingly... But light of...
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Dark Angel
1943
by Llywelyn Lucas The wings of the great dark angel – I heard them brushing, I heard them brushing but thank God not by me, And the tide of battle...
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Dinkum Aussie
2017
He is long, he is lean, he is wiry; He is loose-limbed and carelessly hung; He is quick on the flare-up and fiery; He swears with an eloquent...
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Doom
1939
by Garry Lyle Let them glide bravely while the night-time lingers Boys and girls dancing down the blue-lit room. Let them not see the pale,...
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From Australia Undefended
1909
by Mabel Forrest From AUSTRALIA UNDEFENDED I. The blue sea skirts her slim, sun-ambered feet, Upon her mighty brow red gold is bound, Upon her breast...
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Gallipoli - April 25th 1915
1925
by Colin Bingham A Fragment Upon the crimson-mottled landing beach, The dying groan among the stiff'ning dead, And here and there a one as if to...
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How's that Umpire?
1901
by George Essex Evans Well done, Queensland! How's that, Umpire? More we may not say, "Kruger and the Mauser rifle" , Are not well to-day, For the...
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Men of Brisbane
1915
by Thomas G Rabbets There was only one volunteer after yesterday's great recruiting meeting, held in Market-square, as the climax of the March of the...
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Out of this Battle
2024
Out of this battle by Kathleen Watson (1942) I never saw such blossom on the trees as in this year of sorrow. Nothing freesthe heart of grief;but...
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Reverie
1919
Have you heard the bell-birds calling, thro' the grey Australian bush, On some blue September morning, from the trees? Have you heard a creek go...
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Rub! Dub! R-R-Rub-Dub-Dub
1915
by Thomas G Rabbetts The great recruiting march, Warwick to Brisbane, has begun. Rub! Dub! R-r-rub-dub-dub! Rub! Dub! R-r-rub-dub-dub! March! March!...
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Sky Death (For Australia)
1944
by Pat Galligan I shall wait impatient for the day When I shall leave this land of mine To fight her battles on a distant shore; To fight those men I...
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Sleep Song - Barbara Patterson (Blackman)
2021
By Barbara Patterson[1] They in tired ways beset me Asking for pass ports And news of rain; I cannot tell them, I am escaping And the sun will...
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Soldier's Valediction
1944
by Frank Francis I shall not cheer at your triumph for I shall be dead, Exiled from home and part of an alien soil; Lost to your sunset's gold and...
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Spring, 1916
1917
by Alice Gore-Jones The purple jacaranda bells are fluttering in the air; The mango trees are budding, there is sunshine everywhere. By silver...
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The Fallen Soldier
2011
by Paula Fitzgerald To Cyril* All through the years have we not seen your eyes Searching ours as if in mute appeal- And a voice – my soul's –...
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The Heroes of Tobruk
1943
by James Sweeney Who comprise those gallant heroes, and where did they come from Renowned in song and story, Aussies some thousands strong? They are...
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The Lists
1917
by Alice Gore-Jones These are the lists of death: They were so young! Brave valiant hearts Who loved the earth and sun, The stir of life, And joy's...
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The Mother
1919
by Peter Austen Somewhere in France he lies- Above his head the scarlet poppies blow, And silver moons have bloomed and still will bloom; Somewhere...
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The River
1944
by Garry Lyle How was that boy who laughed a-down the river on glad, unshadowed holidays of peacetime to see across the years himself returning from a...
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The Shadow
2024
By Kathleen Watson Hold the shadow in your handbravely, though you understand only what its loveliness might be, if men were free, If men were...
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The True Memorial
1923
by E. Maurice Little What mean these monuments of bronze and stone That in our midst like sentinels are set? What mean these words I read with...
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The Veteran's Song
1923
by E. Maurice Little Left-right-left! left-right-left! list to the marching feet! Thum-thum-thum! thum-thum-thum! hark to the drum’s quick beat! It calls me...
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The Wood Carver
1920
by Alice Gore-Jones Men move about the workshop clumsily Some limping on a crutch, some with their hands Seeking lost brushes, or the hidden, key Of...
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There Was a Day!
1919
by Peter Austen There was a day, when insolently gay, I laughed unto the strumming of guitars. There was a night, I wove in some brave way A...
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Those at Home
1941
by Shawn O'Leary God grant one letter from home today. The days are long and the blood-hate Leaves me weary when the fighting's done. My soul is...
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To America in 1915
1915
We watch your attitudes with candid eyes: Plain men are we, not given much to prate, Bluntly sincere, keenly compassionate But lions in our wrath at...
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To my brother in the navy
1942
Remember now, as the storm wind from the bay awakens the weeping chorus of the pines, how proudly I led you[1] off to your first long day at the...
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Troop Trains
1917
by Alice Gore-Jones Troop trains troop trains Passing on their way. A sudden gust of cheering cuts The crisp cold winter's day. Above, a sky swept...
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Waiting
2020
Some few nights in the store-keeper’s hut – tin roof and walls -scarce thirty yards from where the twelve head battery’s crushing feet pounded and crushed...
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Windsor Castle Barracks
1885
1ST MARCH, 1885. Dedicated to Lord H—n (Minister for War). THE Third Battalion Grenadiers File through their barrack gate, Mid natural flush of...