FUZZY WUZZY ANGELS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 295, 14 December 1942, Page 2

FUZZY WUZZY ANGELS

BY A DIGGER IN NEW GUINEA A copy of this poem, written by a Digger" in New Guinea, was sent in to the Star by a young reader. The Papuan natives to whom it pays such fine tribute have been decorated with a special medal for loyal service. Many a mother in Australia, when the busy day is done. Sends a prayer to the Almighty for the . keeping of her son, Asking that an angel guide him, and bring him safely back: Now we see those prayers are answered on the Owen Stanley track.

For they haven't any halos, only holes slashed in their ears, And the faces are worked with tattoos, and scratch pins in their hair, Bringing back the badly wounded just „ , .as steady as a hearse, Using leaves to keep the rain off, as careful as a nurse. Slow and careful in bad places on that awful mountain track, And the look upon their faces makes you think that Christ was black. Not a move to hurt the wounded, and they treat him like a saint. It's a picture worth recording that an artiafS yet to paint.

Many a lad will see his mother and husbands see their wives, Just because the fuzzy wuzzies carried them to save their lives From mortar and machine-gun fire, or chance surprise attack, To safety, and care of doctors, at the bottom of the track. May the mother in Australia, when offering up her prayer. Mention these impromptu angels with the fuzzy wuzzy hair.