Poem - Cicely Fox Smith

Farewell To Anzac

By Cicely Fox Smith

Oh, hump your swag and leave, lads, the ships are in the bay —

We've got our marching orders now, it's time to come away —

And a long good-bye to Anzac Beach — where blood has flowed in vain

 For we're leaving it, leaving it, game to fight again!

 But some there are will never quit this bleak and bloody shore —

And some that marched and fought with us will fight and march no more;

 Their blood has bought till Judgment Day the slopes they stormed so well,

 And we're leaving them, leaving them, sleeping where they fell.

 (Leaving them, leaving them — the bravest and the best —

leaving them, leaving them, and maybe glad to rest!

 We've done our best with yesterday, to-morrow's still our own —

But we're leaving them, leaving them, sleeping all alone!)

 Ay, they are gone beyond it all, the praising and the blame,

 And many a man may win renown, but none more fair a fame;

 They showed the world Australia's lads knew well the way to die;

 And we're leaving them, leaving them, quiet where they lie.

 (Leaving them, leaving them, sleeping where they died;

 Leaving them, leaving them, in their glory and their pride —

Round them sea and barren land, over them the sky,

 Oh, We're leaving them, leaving them, quiet where they lie!)