THE WOMAN WHO SITS AND WAITS
I WATCHED THEM SAIL TO HOSTILE SHORES, TO GALIPPOLI’S BLOOD SOAKED SAND
OR THE QUAGMIRE OF THE WESTERN FRONT AND MANY A FOREIGN LAND
I CRIED FOR ALL MY LOVED ONES, THEN WENT HOME AND WATCHED THE CLOCK
WAITING FOR THE TELEGRAM, OR THE PADRE’S DREADED KNOCK
WITH NO KNOWN GRAVE OR RESTING PLACE, TO RECALL THE DAY THEY FELL
WHEN THEY LEFT THIS WORLD OF TEARS, THEY TOOK MY HEART AS WELL
LOVER, FATHER, BROTHER, CHILD, A SISTER OR A FRIEND
WAR IT SHOWS NO SENTIMENT, WHEN A LIFE IS AT IT’S END
I SAW A FACE IN HOSTILE SKY, ON EARTH OR STORMY SEAS
THEIR NAMES ARE LIKE AN ENDLESS CHANT, WHISPERED ON THE BREEZE
FOR EVERY SOUL THAT IS RECALLED, A WOMAN WILL SIT AND PINE
SAYING THAT “THE CAUSE OF THIS, WAS NO FAULT OF MINE”
WHEN THE BELLS OF LIBERTY, RANG OUT LOUD AND STRONG
I SAID “THANK GOD PEACE AT LAST”, BUT THEY DID NOT RING FOR LONG
AGAINST TERROR AND OPPRESSION, THE WORLD STOOD SADLY MUTE
FOR ALL DOWN THROUGH HISTORY, MY SISTERS HAVE FOLLOWED SUIT
ONLY GOD CAN RESSURECT, THE LIFE THAT I CREATED
I PRAY THAT WE WILL MEET AGAIN, WHEN THE MAELSTROM HAS ABATED
I KNOW A FORCE WILL GUIDE ME, TOWARDS TWELVE PEARLY GATES
BUT FROM NOW UNTIL ETERNITY, I’M THE WOMAN WHO SITS AND WAITS
By Tomas ‘Paddy’ Hamilton
16 September 2019
FILE PHOTO: Details unknown.
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