LEST WE FORGET 367 The Ones That Know By Sgt. W. A. McKay Dedicated to Sgt. Earl Rupert of Melfort It’s a road that we’ve travelled together The trail leads back twixt the terraced hills, A ribbon of dusty tract. White in the light of the moon it lies Twisting and winding back. While the years have slipped away And it’s hard to believe that the end of the trail Came for you, Buddy, today At the end of the moon-bathed valley. Where the billowed mountains toss, The trail winds back through a dim cleft Under the Southern Cross Back through the desert lowlands Where the dust lies thick and white, And it’s hard to believe that we’re not going on Together, buddy, tonight. When first we chose to travel The trail that led us here, I remember the cheers and shouting The bands and the flags-and the beer But tonight in this moon-drenched valley Where your Trail has ended today. There is only a Peace, a Stillness, And I think it is better that way. I know we planned it different, There were things we were going to do. Adventure, new worlds to conquer. And maybe a medal or two. And then at the end of the journey Back to the crowds and the roar, Cheering us back from battle As they cheered us to it before. Oh yes we had planned it different When the trail was fresh to our feet. How after the dust of the battle The praises and cheers would be sweet. But here in the star-studded stillness Though never a bugle may blow, There are those who pay silent tribute, And there are The Ones That Know. What are the cheers and the praises That strangers may hold in store Compared to silent tribute Of the men that know the score? Of the men that have travelled with you? Though they leave you here today It is they who will remember When the cheering dies away. And so, though we leave you Buddy, Here by the side of the Trail, Though it leads us on a thousand miles Your memory will not fail You are one of us still, and Buddy. Though the years may come and go You will travel along with us just the same And we are The Ones That Know
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