National Service And Thereafter (Refrain Stanza) Poem by Gert Strydom

For two years I have to bend myself to other's will
and the days in hot pursuit of terrorists remain with me still,
we are at a laughable wage send to war
where life can last for only seconds more,
where spirit-breaking exercises do every day fill,
later are called up at work for camp after camp,
with a number the army does its mark on my days stamp,
we are convinced to stop the ungodly communist ill
and the days in hot pursuit of terrorists remain with me still.

[Poet's note:The National Service was compulsory for a period of two years but thereafter it was termed a military camp where men as citizens were called up, (for up to four months a year)back into the army from their normal careers to be exercised in and be sent back into war or to whatever duty the South African Defence Force deemed them to fulfil.]