697 : A Bridge Too Far.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Built by migrants.

Sunday Whirl (Wordle #157) presents a list of words

that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are:

bones, twice, stolen, water, rocking, open, mess,


aches, bridge, sink, sway, limb, sharp.

The text in green is from the 

Australian National Anthem.

A Bridge Too Far

Australians all let us rejoice

For we are young and free

We've golden soil and wealth for toil,

Our home is girt by sea:


Across the waters to our north,

In frail and rocking ships,

Desperate families on open decks

Make slow and risky trips,

Like generations come before them

Fleeing guns and bombs and whips.

Our land abounds in nature's gifts

Of beauty rich and rare,

In history's page let every stage

Advance Australia fair,

But this is no bridge to a better life:

They’re put into a cage.

A sorry mess, remotely placed,

To sink from sight, backstage.

A sharp and sad reminder

Of our leader’s Christian rage.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,

We'll toil with hearts and hands,

To make this Commonwealth of ours

Renowned of all the lands,


And there they stay on stolen time,

To ache and sway alone.

Not humans to receive our care,

Just limbs and flesh and bone,

Twice expelled from safe refuge

And nowhere to call home.

For those who've come across the seas

We've boundless plains to share,

With courage let us all combine

To advance Australia fair.


In joyful strains then let us sing,

Advance Australia fair.

.

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© J Cosmo Newbery 2014

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