Singapore

They grouped together about the chief
And each one looked at his mate,
Ashamed to think that Australian men
Should meet such bitter fate!
And black was the wrath in each hot heart
And savage oaths they swore
As they thought of how they had all been ditched
By "Impregnable" Singapore.

In her vaunted place she squatted the sea
On a base that was Maginot bred
Her startled face looked up at the skies
To the enemy planes o'erhead.
Enemy planes; while ours were - where?
That cry we had heard before
Our hearts were wrung as it rose this time
From beleaguered Singapore.

She brought forth death as her eldest child
With defeat as her second son.

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poem by Dame Mary Gilmore
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Marri'd

IT’S singin’ in an’ out,
An’ feelin’ full of grace;
Here ’n’ there, up an’ down,
An’ round about th’ place.

It’s rollin’ up your sleeves,
An’ whit’nin’ up the hearth,
An’ scrubbin’ out th’ floors,
An’ sweepin’ down th’ path;

It’s bakin’ tarts an’ pies,
An’ shinin’ up th’ knives;
An’ feelin’ ’s if some days
Was worth a thousand lives.

It’s watchin’ out th’ door,
An’ watchin’ by th’ gate;
An’ watchin’ down th’ road,
An’ wonderin’ why he’s late;

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poem by Dame Mary Gilmore
Added by Poetry Lover
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