sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: Magic Days

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It’s Poetry Friday and it’s my mum’s birthday, so I thought I’d write a little poem for her. When I was a child I remember being pretty excited about her birthday and the feeling of wanting to give her a gift that would make her feel the way I felt on my own birthday.

Magic Days

I bet

when you were little

your birthday was magic.

filled with gifts and cakes

and love and squeals.

 

I know

when I  was little

your birthday was almost

as exciting as my own

and I loved to show you that.

 

I hope

though we are neither little

that your day

still has the gentle thrill

of knowing you are loved.

 

(Sally Murphy, 2015)

 

Happy birthday Mum, and happy Poetry Friday everyone else.

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The Poetry Friday roundup this week will be at Space City Scribes

Flying!

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Want a sneak peak of my next new book? No? Well look away  now. Yes? Well you are in luck, because here is the front cover for you to admire:

Fly-In Fly-Out Dad, published by Five Mile Press and illustrated by the amazing Janine Dawson, will be released on July 1, and I can’t wait.

Not a Celebration

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It’s ANZAC Day, but I’m not celebrating.

I’m fascinated by Australian history, my Grandfather fought on the Western Front, I’ve written two books about Australia’s involvement in World War 1, and I will attend an ANZAC Day Parade and service today. But I’m still not celebrating.

Why? Because ANZAC Day should not be a celebration. A celebration is a party – you can celebrate a birthday, a wedding, Christmas, a new job, a lottery win. But when we remember the one hundredth anniversary of the first landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers at Gallipoli, that’s not a celebration.

Instead, today is a day for remembrance, for commemoration. We pause and we remember that day one hundred years ago. We remember those days before and since when men and women have fought for their country in Turkey, in Palestine, on the Western Front, in Asia, in Papua New Guinea, in Korea, in Vietnam, in Australia, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and elsewhere. That is a long list. Too long.

That’s my point. We remember. We mourn. We respect. But we should not be happy that these things have happened. Instead we pause to remember so that we can pay our respects for what they did and what they went through – and so we can look forward. War is terrible. If we look back, on days like today, through reading and listening to stories, through film and tv, in school classrooms,  maybe we can learn and work out a way towards a peaceful future.

So, what am I doing today? Remembering, paying my respects and praying for a peaceful future.

Poetry Friday: A Personal Poem

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It’s Poetry Friday and, here in Australia, tomorrow is ANZAC Day. I have just returned home after speaking about two of my ANZAC-related books, Do Not Forget Australia and 1915, to schools in Victoria and Perth, s  I thought it might be appropriate today to share a poem from 1915.

Stanley, the main character in my book, is a soldier serving in Gallipoli,and he finds writing poetry comforting during some very hard times. Although the book is written in prose, two of his poems are included. The one I am sharing today is quite sad, but also I hope shows the impact of war on those who fought.1915

Men Don’t Cry

Men don’t cry, or so I’ve heard

But here I sit and do

Because, dear friend this damned war

Has done its worst to you.

 

When we first met you made me laugh

You made me smile and more.

We became friends, we became mates

And together we marched to war.

 

Side by side we fought for months

And still you made me grin.

You were brave and tough, your mother’s son

Determined we would win.

 

When I was hurt you lifted me

And helped me toward aid.

That brave decision, sad to say

Was the last one that you made.

 

A shell blast took us both to ground

And you died a hero’s death.

Your only concern your mother dear

Her name on your last breath.

 

Men don’t cry, but if that’s so

Then no more man am I

As on your final resting place

I can only sit and cry.

 

(Sally Murphy, 2015)

 

A little girl in one of my sessions this week asked a heartbreaking question: Why do we have to have wars?  I gave her an answer that I’m not sure fully satisfied her, because the truth is – I don’t know.  I do hope that if we pause on days like ANZAC Day to remember those wars, and all that they mean, that it makes us aware of the need to strive for peace so that war will be a thing of the past.

Poetry Friday today is being hosted by Renee at No Water River.

 

Simple Ways to Prepare for ANZAC Day

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School is back for term two, and ANZAC Day is only days away. If you are a teacher here are some simple things you can do in your classroom to prepare for the day:

  1. Talk about the significance of the date and the meaning of the word ANZAC. You’ll find a good explanation here.
  2. Read books about war to your students, and have a classroom display of such books that they can pick up in their own time. There are a plethora of such books available, so you are sure to find something age appropriate,  and publishers websites often have teachers notes.
  3. Talk about why we remember the day. Encourage students to share stories from their family history, and to listen to stories available from their community. Your local RSL may be able to help you with this information.
  4. Simple activities can often help children feel involved. Make a red poppy to lay at an ANZAC ceremony, write a poem, paint a picture, bake ANZAC biscuits.

Thank you for all you do in educating children about the significance of this important day.

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