The moonless night
Casts unfamiliar shadows
On our precious land
The age-old battle
Of a familiar kind
Pray for our land
Pray for hope
In this dark hour
Pray for souls
Who stake their lives
For this free air
I hear your screams
But your lips don’t move
I feel your shadow grow
But you lay perfectly still
Dawn cracks
Breathe the air
So victoriously sweet
God is forgotten
The soldier is laid to rest
If lady luck smiles on his soul
Amongst the ones
He has grown to love
As a friend, as a brother
Most of all
As a comrade
In pursuit for this free land
Aucklander Avilesh Prasad is a former Naval Officer and a keen writer. The above poem is a homage to the martyrs and those serving in the defence forces on the occasion of ANZAC Day
