THE OLD MAGPIE
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
AS HE GAZED DOWN ON THE POPPIES, IN OUR GARDEN BED
YOUR FLOWERS THEY BEND IN TRIBUTE, TO THE SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT
THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
YOUR SEEDS WERE SOWN WITH LOVING CARE, WHEN THE WINTER FROST HAD FLED
THE WEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN CAST ASIDE, NOW LEAVE YOU IN GOOD STEAD
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT
THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
FRAGILE PETALS WILTING, CRUSHED BY THE SOLDIERS TREAD
NOW THEY PAUSE IN SILENCE AS SOLEMN WORDS ARE SAID
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT,
THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
EACH YEAR YOUR BLOOMS REMIND US, OF ALL THE BLOOD THEY SHED
FOR GLORY AND THE EMPIRE, LIKE LEMMINGS THEY WERE LED
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT,
THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
LET YOU NOW GROW IN PEACE, FAR FROM THE MORTAL DREAD
FOR SOLACE WHEN ONCE ACHIEVED, HANGS BY A SLENDER THREAD
YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM THE WESTERN FRONT,
THE OLD MAGPIE SAID
By Tomas ‘Paddy’ Hamilton
22 October 2018
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CAPTION: In celebration of their mascot, the Australian magpie, No. 75 Squadron applied a black and white commemorative paint scheme to F/A-18A Hornet A21-018. The aircraft will sport the new colour scheme ahead of the squadron’s transition to the F-35A Lightning II in 2022. The squadron adopted the magpie because it is a belligerent defendant of its young with the courage to attack. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.
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