Childhood's End

This is a poem from a school World War I/ANZAC lesson when I was 13 years old. It’s taken from the point of view of a young soldier, sailing out of port. It’s a little primitive, but it was the first poem I was ever proud of.

Childhood’s End
I’m standing here waving to the crowd,
Somewhere in there is my wife.
I know that I’m heading to a war,
But a war, I don’t know what it’s like.

I’m here standing on a troop ship,
It’s now too late to turn back.
On the outside I’m quite excited.
On the inside I want to go back.

This boat is taking forever,
It started departing half an hour ago.
I have a long journey still ahead,
I must say bye now, I have to go.

©Richard Mather-Fry, 1998.