SPIRIT OF ANZAC

They clad us in the colours of the forest,

and armed us with the weapons made for war.

Then taught to us the ancient trade of killing,

and lead us to the sound of battles roar.

So give us comfort as we lay down bleeding,

and pray upon our cold and stiffened dead.

But mark our place that we might be accounted,

this foreign soil becomes our graven bed.

Now children place upon this stone a garland,

and learn of us each Anzac Day at dawn.

We are New Zealand’s dead from distant conflict,

our sacrifice remembered ever more.

By Mike Subritzky (1986)

Author’s Note: This is the first New Zealand poem to be read at the ANZAC War Memorial, Hyde Park, London. It was read on ANZAC Day 2004 by The Honourable Russell Marshall, New Zealand High Commissioner.

You have Mike Subritzky's permission to use this poem and photograph, ABSOLUTELY FREE.

This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Mike subritzky at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: Mike subritzky grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse

• 2010-05-23 10:20 Mike subritzky 639×480 (74437 bytes) {{Information |Description = ANZAC Day |Source = I Mike Subritzky created this work entirely by myself. |Date = May 2010 |Author = Mike Subritzky |other_versions = }}
• 2010-05-23 11:15 Mike subritzky 639×480 (75171 bytes) {{Information |Description = |Source = I Mike Subritzky created this work entirely by myself. |Date = May 2010 |Author = Mike Subritzky |other_versions = }}
• 2010-05-23 12:18 AussieLegend 639×480 (74437 bytes) Reverted to version as of 10:20, 23 May 2010 [[WP:WATERMARK]]