George Mansford

NEGLECTED HEROES

When Canberra Suits speak of our glorious dead
Honour, duty, love of country and much more is said
To guide them, they use notes written by others
Followed by a short silence for our fallen brothers
Soon after in chauffeured limousines they have departed
The glorious dead forgotten and notes already discarded
Meanwhile veterans walk, shuffle or are wheeled away
There won’t be as many next year on this special day

These warrior need no prepared notes from others
To recall the past and speak proudly of fallen brothers
They too were once youngsters in uniform who left our shores
Many who became casualties and crippled by war
Now reside at the bottom of the food chain
Receive pitiful pensions and often wracked with pain
Some live in recluse; others struggle to provide for family and wife
For many, frequent haunting nightmares of past bloody strife

Is there any one in Canberra who really, really cares
For these disabled veterans who served with honour and dared
Neglected heroes with eroded pensions who struggle to live
The blind; the crippled; the mentally ill; what else left to give?
Their families too have been sentenced by society to just exist
A flow of medals offers no warmth or comfort on any wish list
Frequent political spin which is simply bullshit doesn’t comfort them
It won’t clothe, feed or pay the bills of such neglected women and men

Put simply, can’t our Government get priorities right now and then?
Surely those who risked all and still suffer deserve a Fair Go
If not, a new generation of disabled veterans is also soon to be condemned

Author’s Note: Dedicated to those who served and are now penalised by Government for becoming casualties of war