Seager, Alexandrine – September 1915
Again Good-Bye!
Bravely with banners the walls are gay,
The organ peals as ‘The Boys’ march in;
How dearly we love them we’ll show today,
‘Ere they leave for the front and battle’s din
With pride of race are our faces lit,
The President rises, ‘mid ringing cheers;
And white-robed girls round the tables flit;
Oh! scenes that will live in the coming years
There flashes before us a past ‘farewell’
Farewell for ever to some we loved;
There surges a picture of battle’s hell–
Where Austral Britons their courage proved.
We smilingly smother each rising sigh,
And hide ‘neath our eyelids the burning brine;
for we must be worthy the lads who lie
Afar by the landing and Lonesome Pine.
Dear, deathless army; your new brigade
Comes from the Land of the Southern Cross
With reckless valour their lives they’ve laid
At Empire’s feet – and a nation’s loss.
Again, gallant lads, in their glowing pride,
Are hurrying forward their ‘bit’ to do;
And whatever happens, whate’er betide,
We know they they’ll carry Australia through.
