CAPTAIN LALOR

CAPTAIN LALOR

Captain Lalor,
Haven’t you lost your way?
what are you doing here,
four hundred yards
from the peak of Chunuk Bair?

Peter Lalor's sword by your side,
your grandfather's pride;
what are you doing here
four hundred yards
from the peak of Chunuk Bair?
the 26th April, 1915, far from
your farm in Victoria, so green?


Captain Lalor,
haven't you lost your way?
what are you doing here?
your eyes filming,
your fingers unlacing
from the handle
of Peter Lalor’s sword,
so carefully balanced and restored,
your spent cartridges all around,
your four mates lying,
without a sound,
Captain Lalor,
what are you doing here?
four hundred yardsfrom the peak of Chunuk Bair?

From the book 'The Bastard Who Squashed the Grapes in Me Bag' 1991, by Denis Kevans.