Ataturk

Na die groot veldslag by Gallipoli in Turkye waar jong Turkse en Australiese manne van 18 jaar gesneuwel het, was dit Ataturk se woorde in 1934 op die monument:
Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives
you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country
therefore rest in peace,
There is no difference between the Johnnies
and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side – – –
You the mothers,
who sent their children from far away countries
wipe away your tears,
your sons are now lying in our bosom
and are in peace,
THEY HAVE BECOME OUR SONS s well – – –
( En by die jongmanne se grafte?)
Linger not stranger, shed no tear,
go back to those that sent us here
we are the young they drafted out
to wars their folly brought about
Go tell those old men safe in bed
we took their orders and are dead – – –

Ataturk,
simbool teen hedendaagse terreur – – –
Oral slaan aanvalle op onskuldiges toe
soos masels dan hier, dan daar in
‘n morele gisting en verrotting van
magsmisbruik en verdrukking wat
die onheilige heksepot laat oorkook
en landsburgers soos rotte laat spat oor
oseane en land in ‘n apokaliptiese omvang – – –
Enkelinge of groepe met hul gevoellose
diaboliese winterse harte en selfsugtige
eenoog wêreldsienings is leiers tot eie baat – – –
Agter slot en grendel verskans bid ons God
vir vrede, liefde en verdraagssmheid.
Omskep daardie yskoue winterharte
in ‘n somer en lenteliefde en laat die
wit vredesduif weer oor hulle vlieg – – –

Janetta – Helena [Babs) ©