On ANZAC Day: "Recessional", by Rudyard Kipling

Please forgive my ignorance, PIAH.

When you put in the title, "by Ruyard Kipling", does that mean that the poem you have posted in your interpretation of his poem mixed with an influence from your hymnal's verse?

I read the most interesting artlcle last night regarding including/referencing other written work, such as using a phrase out of a very public joke, or a snippet of a famous public writing. For example, in my "Line Creek at the Natchez Trace" historical poem, I used "a house divided against itself cannot stand" which, of course, is not mine words but I used them. I didn't realize until after I read the article that it was a plagerism.

So, if, as you have indicated, this piece is a mixing of two influences, have you exerpted phrases out of the writings that inspired this piece? I just learning about this stuff, so I hope it's not offensive that I ask.

kid

I've been amazed since moving here at the depth of feeling around this day. In my experience, Memorial Day gets a nod in the US, but in Australia, the nation still stops for ANZAC Day. I've read that over 50,000 Australians a year visit Gallipoli. Thousands go there every year for the dawn service; it's a long way to go (Turkey) for a memorial.

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What really amazes me is that the Turkish are so amazingly supportive of the memorials. They move roads etc so not to go over the old battlefields - and we complain if the roadworks aren't finished soon enough !

It would be like the Japanese turning up once a year at Pearl Harbor to hold a memorial service to remember the heroic Japanese who died in the attack. I can't imagine America being too helpful in that situation.

It is amazing that the Turkish people are so helpful.

Mac
(The idea that tthere was a great deal of respect of the Turks by the ANZACs seems to be a bit of a modern myth. Reading the diaries of some of the ANZACs sees the Turks being called 'f!cking n!ggers' and similar phrases. They didn't seem to particularly like the locals !)

Mac H. said:

It would be like the Japanese turning up once a year at Pearl Harbor to hold a memorial service to remember the heroic Japanese who died in the attack. I can't imagine America being too helpful in that situation.

It is amazing that the Turkish people are so helpful.

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would they (Japs) even ask? they attacked Pearl Harbor with the eventual intent of world domination, the very thing that the ANZAC were trying to prevent. i would guess the Turkish support comes from recognition of the sacrifice these men made.

in surfing for more info on your ANZAC day Poet, i found a beautiful photo of one of the cemetaries, at Ari Burnu ( i have a fascination for such photos) it's obvious the background was photo-shopped in, but still a poignant touch, and appropriate to Kipling's hymn.

Well, it must be noted that, as a proportion of the population, Australia and New Zealand suffered a particularly enoromous loss from their adult male population. There are layers to the day reflecting the impact on our societies, the individual sacrifices and I think, some feeling about how these British-commanded ANZAC forces were thrown right to the front and often withdrawn last.

Popularity of ANZAC seems to be growing lately, perhaps it is also partly down to the fact that this was the era in which both countries become independent as nations. In New Zealand particulalry celebration of nationhood on Waitangi/NZ day are mixed with acknowledgemet of the atrocious treatment of the Maori--so feeling realting to the virtues of the post-colonial nation have shift to other days.

Please accept my apology for my ignorance. I appreciate the clarification. I am not a very educated person.

thank you,

kid

Hi Poet,

I wasn't familiar with ANZAC Day, (which is surprising because one of my best friends is an ex-Aussie) but I can see how "Recessional" would apply to it.

Kipling was a Poet of the people and had a knack for relating the effect of historical events on human values.

One of my favorites of his over the years reflected the lack of respect that the British People showed for their soldiers. It's called "Tommy" (and it still reflects the attitudes of citizens towards soldiers today)

******

Tommy
by Rudyard Kipling

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

*******

For those who might be interested, his biography and a complete collection of his works can be found at: http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/kipling_ind.html

Thanks for reminding us of the power of his works, and for calling our attention to ANZAC Day.

JRH

Hmm. Poetry forums aren't a waste of time. I'm a smarter person now than I was this morning. One down, on the list of this I did not know.