Toesh Rawat (8F2) won the Howick RSA intermediate category poem\/essay competition. This morning he presented his poem at the dawn service on Stockdale Hill and then later at the Howick RSA’s breakfast.\u00a0 His poem is below.<\/p>\n
On the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula<\/em> All around them<\/em> Dying of diseases<\/em> Toesh Rawat (8F2) won the Howick RSA intermediate category poem\/essay competition. This morning he presented his poem at the dawn service on Stockdale Hill and then later at the Howick … Continue reading Toesh Rawat speaks at dawn service.<\/span>
Our men stood steadfast<\/em>
As kaitiaki for whom no price was high enough<\/em>
Even if it meant laying their lives down<\/em>
E kore e whakarere<\/em><\/p>\n
The stench of death, loss and grief<\/em>
Comrades mere shells of men they had been<\/em>
Shadows of the lives they had led<\/em>
Contemplating the grueling conditions they endured<\/em>
The hope that war would end kept them going<\/em>
Every single day the memories of the tamariki, the kuia who wait and hope<\/em>
Hope and wait for their sons return.<\/em>
Hope and wait for their fathers to return<\/em>
E kore e whakarere<\/em><\/p>\n
But these men had a bigger promise to fulfill<\/em>
They had to make the world a better place even with the smallest of actions.<\/em>
Even the smallest of actions changed the lives of the future generations<\/em>
Even the smallest of actions still affects us to this day<\/em>
There every action gave us the freedom we have now.<\/em>
E kore e whakarere<\/em><\/p>\n
The day creeps by slowly and slowly with just the thought of their families<\/em>
Every single day they had to deal with the gruesome conditions.<\/em>
Every single day they had to fight for their families at home<\/em>
Every single day the soldiers have to fight for the future tamarikis<\/em>
Every single day the nurses had to help heal the injured<\/em>
All to help end the war<\/em>
E kore e whakarere<\/em><\/p>\n
Putting their lives on the line<\/em>
Watching their friends die<\/em>
Shell casings everywhere<\/em>
Rationing their food<\/em><\/p>\n
All to help the future generations<\/em>
E kore e whakarere<\/em><\/p>\n
Stuck on the edge of a cliff<\/em>
The sea on their back<\/em>
Turks above them<\/em>
Nowhere to go<\/em>
They still fight and won\u2019t give up<\/em>
It is because of them, we live in freedom<\/em>
All to help us now.<\/em>
E kore e whakarere<\/em><\/p>\n
When the war had ended, their sacrifices, not forgotten<\/em>
The death of their fellow comrades, not forgotten<\/em>
Everything they had done for our country, not forgotten<\/em>
E kore e whakarere<\/em><\/p>\n
Lest we forget<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"