A tribute to Rhodesia's Soldier Pioneers. <br /> <br />He held Dads medals in his hand, <br />As they lowered his casket down <br />A hole dug in that barren land, <br />On the slopes of Salisbury Town. <br /> <br />Head bowed down towards the sand, <br />Tears raining from his eye, <br />On the Medals clutched within his hand, <br />Like raindrops from on high. <br /> <br />He listened to the prayers and Word, <br />And to the eulogy; <br />No finer words had this lad heard, <br />Of his only progeny. <br /> <br />Rhodesia was, in those first days, <br />Untamed and fancy free, <br />Dingaan was the black mans praise, <br />King of M’tabele. <br /> <br />All the pacts and treaties broken, <br />By Dingaan and his son, <br />Treaties both penned and spoken, <br />Now broken every one. <br /> <br />Rebellion grew against those white <br />By blacks a thirst for war, <br />Warriors vexing their great might <br />Were fifty score, times four. <br /> <br />An assegai had pierced his chest, <br />As he fought hand to hand. <br />These ‘Murungus’ coming from the west, <br />Unwelcomed in Black’s land. <br /> <br />Proud medals from some distant war, <br />His life’s worth left to show, <br />Reminders of campaigns of yore, <br />Fought for a land… he’d never know.<br /><br />Alf Hutchison<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/soldier-35/
