Some talk of their mates and what Mateship's about <br />But the greatness of Mateship is open to doubt <br />What is one person's truth is another person's lie <br />And so few for their mates would be prepared to die. <br /> <br />Some for to meet their mates they do not travel far <br />They meet them after work in their local bar <br />They drink the same brand of alcohol and think and speak the same way <br />That similarity can breed Mateship does seem fair to say. <br /> <br />Nationalism, Patriotism and Mateship not that far apart <br />Love of the National Flag to some can become an affair of the heart <br />Our Nation's war history we do celebrate <br />And the one we see as different cannot be our mate. <br /> <br />Of the praises of their mates some often do sing <br />But the greatness of Mateship seems an over-blown thing <br />Since Mateship does seldom transcend creed or race <br />Though like most things in humanity for it there's some place.<br /><br />Francis Duggan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-mateship/
