It Took Eight Parades To Say Goodbye Poem by Gert Strydom

It took eight parades to say goodbye
and there were fighters in the sky
and we wore battle clothes
and drove our armour
through the streets
and saluted every time,
that he stood with his hat
clenched to his chest.

We marched with a military band
and everyone had step outs on
and as we passed
the man in the dark suit,
rifles swung up high
to a generals salute
in order to say goodbye
to the commander in chief.

I remember him waiting with his arm
on his chest
and hat pressed there,
while we crossed the border
back from war
and there was something
on his face;
when I saluted
as the Ratel IFV drove past.



[Reference: Ratel IFV= Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle.]