The For Australia Ode.

Title: The For Australia Ode.

Beneath the Southern Cross I stand.
One heart, two hands, you understand.
Everything I say and do is -
For Australia.
Australia!

The sunburnt land that we call home,
Where kangaroos and koalas roam,
Our beaches stretch for miles and miles,
And blue skies bring forth happy smiles,

Our people are a melting pot,
From every corner, every spot,
We welcome all with open hearts,
And share our culture, our arts,

Our ANZACs fought with courage true,
Their sacrifice, we'll never forget or eschew,
We honor them with pride and might,
And strive to live their legacy right,

From Uluru to the Great Barrier Reef,
Our natural wonders are beyond belief,
We cherish them with all our might,
And pledge to keep them shining bright,

Our cities buzz with life and verve,
From Sydney to Melbourne, Perth to Brisbane curve,
The hustle and bustle never cease,
But we take it all in with ease,

Our farmers toil day and night,
To bring forth food that's fresh and bright,
Their hard work feeds us all with grace,
And we honor them with a grateful embrace,

Our sportsmen and women are world-class,
In cricket, rugby, and the swimming pass,
We cheer them on with all our might,
And revel in their victories bright,

Our Indigenous people have a rich history,
Their culture and traditions, a national mystery,
We learn from them with open hearts,
And strive to play our rightful parts,

Our democracy is strong and true,
Our freedoms and rights, we hold onto,
We vote and speak with voices loud,
And stand up for what we believe, proud,

Our economy is robust and sound,
Our innovation and entrepreneurship profound,
We create jobs and wealth with might,
And strive to make our future bright,

Our education system is world-class,
Our teachers and students, a formidable mass,
We learn and grow with all our might,
And strive to reach for the stars so bright,

Our healthcare system is second to none,
Our doctors and nurses, a shining sun,
They care for us with all their might,
And keep us healthy and strong with insight,

Our way of life needs our care,
To preserve its truth, clean and fair,
We uphold her beauty, with all our might,
And pledge to keep it shining bright,

Our future is full of promise and hope,
With all our talents and skills to scope,
We march ahead with strength and might,
And strive to make our dreams take flight,

So, let us stand beneath the Southern Cross,
With hearts and hands, our spirit emboss,
Everything we say and do is -
For Australia.
Australia!

Please Note: I wrote this back in the day, when I was young and naïve. I've always had a deep love and respect for my birthplace - and still do. I thought it was time to release my For Australia Ode in full, warts and all. I hope it speaks for itself, and that you dear reader might excuse the lack of poetic talent and artistic flair. Never forget, I'm no artist, comic, senator, scholar or anyone of importance. I'm just a bloke who loves our beautiful country.

God Bless Australia - this land has a wonderful way of making you love her.

© Christos Harisopoulos 24 April 2023