Tag: War poetry

Fallen

photo of a tree on the left of the screen and a layer of yellow leaves fallen on the ground

‘Tis the fall season,
a layer of ground cover:
leaves here; humans there.

Alive

Larger-than-life model of a fallen soldier, and an army doctor sitting beside the body. An exhibit about the Gallipoli campaign, as seen at the museum of New Zealand in Wellington.
An exhibit about the Gallipoli campaign, the museum of New Zealand in Wellington.

Fallen soldiers sleep—
the living die every day,
their wars never end.

Perpetua

Photo of the gravestones of war veterans in a cemetery.
War veterans’ cemetery

His duty was done;
into the valley of death,
rides next consignment.

Decay

Photo of an artwork by Shamsia Hassani. Art shows an Afghan woman holding a bunch of dandelions behind her back while a war tank rolls on in front of her.
Art by Shamsia Hassani, an Afghan graffiti artist. Artwork commission for OzAsia festival in Adelaide, 2022

Shelling left and right,
corroded metallic smoke—
my flowers wither.

—

See more of Hassan’s work on her Instagram profile.

Reflections

photo of a can of pale ale from the time of the First World War, with the words, "God 'elp all of us" inscribed in it

Gulping down a beer,
mundane summer afternoon—
god help our soldiers.