Poem – Shuffling in Clanking Chains or Running Free 

         Shuffling in clanking chains or running free 

No magic wand was waved to create our precious way of life 

Our genesis was pain and misery mid terrible strife

Of clanking iron chains, the lash and a dangling noose of rope

Despite such hardships over many years, there was always hope

Dreams of a new life gathered appetite and with it came a plate

A bowl of liberty and unity that even for the hungriest did sate

With blood, sweat and tears, those before us forged a proud nation

To challenge old worlds as it reached out for tomorrow’s station  

So why in this Space Age have we ignored lessons from the past?

Bending to noisy minorities groups eroding our way of life so fast

Our national spirit blurred by ignorance, mischief, greed and conceit  

Canberra’s reckless spending sprees will cause poverty and bare feet 

Balding Wigs of Court pampering felons and ignoring their victims 

Big brother is freezing tongues and twisting truth with sly systems

Misfits wanting, yet giving naught while dawdling in life at lazy pace   

Growing contempt for law of the land and no responsibilities to face

If only we could stop this mad stampede to quicksand

To recapture precious values in family castles within our land

To once more apply commons sense and sound reason 

Fight that political correctness poisoning us more with each season

To insist on social discipline and justice so essential to our way of life

Never to blindly follow drums and bugles into terrible strife

No longer mute and blinkered but speaking out to keep us free

To honour those whose dreams became reality for you and me 

If we seek shade and sleep under a leafless tree 

What of those yet to be born in a country once free?

Never forget that our way of life is based on a fair go for all

“United we stand or divided we will fall” must always be our call

To watch our course and steer true bearings we all understand 

To decide what’s first; the whim of a few or the voice of our land  

Our pulse beat of life must be unity, vision and never doubt or fear 

Stand tall now or bow meekly to clanking chains in coming years 

George Mansford © December 2017

Become A Digital Member




Visit State or Territory Associations

Click here for Queensland Branch Click here for Northern Territory Branch Click here for Western Australia Branch Click here for South Australia Branch Click here for New South Wales Branch Click here for Australian Capital Territory Branch Click here for Victoria Branch Click here for Tasmania Branch

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Campaign Donations

Follow Us