Michele Fermanis-Winward

Blackheath, New South Wales, Australia 

 

Michele lives close to the summit of the World Heritage, Blue Mountains. She is currently engaged on her seventh book of poetry. Michele classes herself as an Imagist, her work has a focus on environmental, social and historical issues.

 

Completed 17th May 2020

 

 

From Convict to Covid

 

The men came in their thousands

wrenched from English slums 

sent to battle wilderness.

They had to forge new families

from the strangers close at hand

it's how they would survive.

 

The lure of gold brought more 

a madness in mens' eyes

the diggings were a sirens's song.

Teams of men tore at the earth

forged bonds against the law

fuelled by dreams of striking wealth.

 

Harsh was not the half of it-

outback the drovers ranged

long paddocks and lonely weeks on end.

They drove their herds along

the billy boiled and tales exchanged

through nights under a bunyip moon.

 

Cobber, digger, mate- in love and need

through Flanders' trenches soldiers wept

for remnants of their lost humanity.

How many more would cry for help

'for pity's sake, don't leave me here to die' 

 to friends who fought to get them out.

 

In jungle sweat and ragged clothes

empty bellies and weeping sores

prison gangs shared all the had.

They joked and japed to salve brutality

'you bloody stay alive to spite those Nips'

returned to RSLs and honoured fallen chums.

 

They marched on Anzac day

humped a bluey through the bush

moved around the shearers' camps.

At home they cheered their footy codes

mocked wowser and tall poppy chumps

helped to build each others homes.

 

This ethic burns within us still 

how easy then to close the country down

to say another's fate is in our hands.

'Stay home to save your parents' lives

don't spread contagion round',

our gift for being mates, not virulent.