By Miriam Erasmus
Welcome my sons.
Welcome to another war in a land that’s not your own
Welcome to the searing heat that will turn your necks to red.
Are you the new “Rooi Neks” who will join the glorious dead ?
Welcome my sons.
Welcome to the untamed wilderness of the bush veld.
Welcome to the mosquitos and the mines – both could take your life.
Has your presence here disturbed your country – your wife ?
Welcome my sons.
Welcome to the thankless task that many of you know.
Welcome to the blank stares of the people you must guard.
Are you going to remain impartial when the Peace is marred ?
Welcome my sons.
Welcome with all our hearts. Our boys can now return.
Welcome, and may the time soon come when, back in your own land
Your families and friends stretch forth their hands
To say
Welcome my sons.
Written, from my heart, for the UN Peace keeping soldiers who were sent to Angola at the end of the South African Border War ( 1966 – 1990 ) so that our soldiers could come home.
My husband, and thousands of South African teenagers like him had to do compulsory 2 years Military Service after school and before they could study or start work.
Author Bio:
Miriam Erasmus.
Singer / Songwriter Miriam was born in Lewes, Sussex in 1948, and has a lifetime of making music.
From 1993-7 she was “Miriam Backhouse. The First Lady of Folk”.
She still tours Europe with her own songs and traditional ones.
In 1977 she married John Erasmus and moved to South Africa.
They raised a family as “Mim and John” playing music for all ages, but mostly touring the local Schools from 1987 to 2018.
She wrote 300 Educational songs and poems for children.
Now a journalist, she writes of life in South Africa and her travels.
Contact Author:
YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnpj8REUlOzHPXnPnULwpKg
Facebook link:
https://web.facebook.com/miriam.erasmus
