Moving

I am now mixing this blog up with a new one, called "I Wrote..."
so from now on if you want to read my poetry, please go to my new blog
http://www.iwrotethesethings.blogspot.com/

Other Poets

I would like to hear from other poets, so if you have a poem you'd like up on here, please send it to indiana_blogger@hotmail.com
If it's appropriate, I will hopefully put it up on the blog.
I'd love to read your work
Indiana

World War One Conscription

In History at school, we've been learning about the ANZAC's, World War 1 (WW1) and how it affected Australia. We just learnt about conscription. That was the name the government used when they got Australia to vote on whether Australian men should be forced into the army when they turn 18. The Australian Worker, a newspaper of the time, seemed to be against it, because it put out this poem that I really wanted to share on my blog. So here it is:

The Blood Vote

Why is your face so white Mother?

Why do you choke for breath?

O I have dreamt in the night, my son,

That I doomed a man to death.

Why do you hide your hand Mother?

And crouch above it in dread?

It bereath a dreadful brand, my son

With the dead man's blood tis read.

I hear his widow cry in the night,

I hear his children weep,

And always within my sight,

O God!

The dead man's blood doth leap.

They put the dagger into my grasp,

It seemed but a pencil then,

I did not know it was a fiend-a-gasp

For the priceless blood of men

They gave me the ballot paper.

The grim death warrant of doom.

And I smugly sentenced the man to death

In that dreadful little room.

I put it inside the box of blood,

Nor thought of the man I'd slain,

Till at midnight come like a whelming flood

God's word - and the brand of Cain.

O little son! O my little son!

Pray God for your mother's soul.

That the scarlet stain may be white again

In God's great judgement Roll.

Not the most optimistic poem, but I suppose that's what it was for. I'm not sure who wrote it, but they were trying to get a point across. I'm guessing they wanted it to be affective. It worked, for me anyway. I personally think the author was trying to tell people that voting for conscription, for forced soldiers, would be to kill them, and so they would be sinning, going against God. War had been advertised as an adventure in the beginning, but people eventually came to realise it wasn't so great. So many people believed that making it law for men to become soldiers probably wasn't the nicest thing to do. Personally I agree.

I'd love to hear your opinions, and if you thought the poem was effective or not.

I'm Back!

I'm finally back to update my blog. I havn't been on for a while, because I've been really busy with school work and things, but now I'm going to make sure that I put more effort and dedication into my poetry blog. I'm planning my next post as we speak (or type). I hope you enjoy, and thanks for reading!
Indiana