Exceptional Japanese prisoner of war -saved by Aussies. Soldier Saved. by Aussie Quatrain Poetry Contest contest entry

Soaked to the skin - rain the only sound Hen hid from soldiers - dumping down rain Young Japanese soldier - hoping to be found Shivering from malaria - hunger and pain. All his men dead - Lieutenant Hen led Nineteen going on twenty - just a boy Bullet in his belly - he should be dead "Die for the Emperor of the sun" - national ploy. Shivering inside the massive tree - he couldn't see A voice barking orders - Hen's hope shrank Hen lifted his arms in surrender, thinking to be free "Bloody yellow peril, chuck him in the tank." He couldn't understand the lingo - didn't want to die Aussie soldiers fed him, gave him pills Medic removed the bullet, sewed with straight eye Hen tried to thank them - blank from his ills. Days rolled by - Zero's lit the skies Hen heard his own planes diving on the enemy He would go home - mother he could tell lies How he was wounded - belly opened like anemone. For months the men made their way south Hen was camp water-boy - hoping to be free Then the war was over - cheering from every mouth Lieutenant Hen Tak Si gazed towards the sea. Recognized Author Notes Contest entry: rhyming ABAB quatrains. Young Japanese prisoner spends time with Aussie soldiers in New Guinea. The honour code for the Japanese was to die for the Emperor of Japan - no matter what. Hen didn't die and he knew he would have to lie to his mother on his return home. Death was glorious to the Japanese. His mother welcomed him with loving arms and he was awarded the Star for Bravery under fire. Yellow peril: slang for Japanese soldiers Tank: small cage for prisoners Lingo: language Zero's: Very fast Japanese planes Anemone: Japanese flower that open wide with white petals and a centre of yellow stamens.

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