When she died in 1848, aged just 30, Emily Brontë had written just one novel, Wuthering Heights. Of course, that novel was a classic and remains one of the most popular and widely read Victorian novels. But Emily Brontë also wrote many poems. ‘Love and Friendship’ sees Emily Brontë reflecting on the differences between these two pillars of our emotional lives.
Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship like the holly-tree—
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
I made this collage for my profile photo on Facebook to celebrate Anzac Day this year.
In the group photo my dad, Lt Col Dr Bogdan Stojic, is easily recognisable in his Yugoslav uniform. These are the brave POW doctors at Cosel, Lamsdorf, today Lambinowice, from the UK, Australia and New Zealand. They all came home safe and sound when WWII ended in 1945.
In the second photo my dad is 22 years old, a volunteer in the Serbian Army, working as a medical orderly and assistant to Dr Sofoterov, about to set off on the perilous journey through the Albanian and Montenegrin mountains in November and December of 1915, known as the Albanian Golgotha or Serbian Golgotha. About the same time, the Anzacs were leaving the Gallipoli peninsula.
The bottom photo shows Bogdan Stojic, medical student (he continued his medical studies at Moscow University when on leave) , in the Russian Imperial uniform with his first St George medal for bravery. He served in the Second Siberian Corps of the 23rd Flying Red Cross Unit from February 1916 to April 1918, having thus witnessed and taken part in the Russian Revolution. The memoir I’ve been writing about his adventures in WWI is almost ready for publication. It would be wonderful if it could be published by the end of this year, since it is the centenary of the end of the Great War. Wish me luck. 🙂
Here is the photo of the Cosel group again, so you can see everyone in it.
Such fine fellows! ❤ StalagVIIIB/344 LAMSDORF PRISONERS OF WAR
I am very grateful to them and to all the brave soldiers and nurses who put their lives on the line defending our freedom.
2015 is the ANZAC Centenary year, so I’ve chosen for this post fresh, crunchy, delicious and nutritious ANZAC Biscuits, sent by mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts to soldiers in WWI. They were all volunteers as was my father in the Serbian Army. In November 1915, when the Anzacs were fighting bravely at Gallipoli, the equally courageous Serbian Army was forced to retreat under German attacks. They had heard of the extraordinary bravery of Australian and New Zealand soldiers and thought, if only the Anzacs were there to help, they would be able to beat the Germans. That retreat is known as The Albanian Golgotha or The Serbian Golgotha. The Gallipoli campaign could very well bear the same name – The Gallipoli Golgotha. The Anzacs withdrew from Gallipoli in December, but went on to fight in France, and the Serbs regrouped in Greece, in Salonika. The war was won in 1918…
My relationship with these beautifully sculpted blooms is definitely a strained one. Ever since I was struck down with that strange malady called Chronic Fatigue (some medicos don’t believe it exists!), my sensitivity to strong smells, even nice perfumes, has prevented me from enjoying these lovely flowers in my house. But what I have recently discovered pleases me beyond belief: the White Lily has a very subtle scent that I tolerate quit well and even enjoy! ❤
I love
Your exquisite
Porcelain look of pinkish hue
Yet your sweet scent in my poor head
Kills me
The very thought of you makes my heart sing
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring,
And you appear in all your splendor,
My one and only love.
The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms
In the hush of night while you’re in my arms.
I feel your lips, so warm and tender,
My one and only love.
The touch of your hand is like heaven,
A heaven that I’ve never known.
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
Tells me that you are my own.
You fill my eager heart with such desire.
Ev’ry kiss you give sets my soul on fire.
I give myself in sweet surrender,
My one and only love.
Time for a bit of nonsense! A tribute in verse to Winky Blue, who is going to keep me fit. I finally found the right ball in a two-dollar shop. It cost a bit more – $5, but it was worth it. I instantly fell in love with that cute face. And I love the colour, too. I named him Winky because he does kind of wink at me, calling me to start exercising.
I wrote this poem in 2013, I think, and my Facebook friend Ag Nes created this digital photo.
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Citizenship ceremonies will be held all over Australia today. People will celebrate in green parks and on sandy beaches, in pubs and clubs and at home. They’ll put lamb chops, sausages and shrimps on the barbie, delicious Aussie tucker, and keep cool and merry sipping cold Aussie beer or any other Aussie beverage.
My hubby Sasha and I will be celebrating with our feathered friends.
With colourful Rainbow Lorikeets
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With Magpies singing praises of this special day.
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These two rascals won’t be welcome. The Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were good fun until they decided to help themselves, in our absence, to our outdoor timber furniture.
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I’ll let you join the party, Mr Currawong, if you pop in at your hairdresser’s first.
