The Greatest Lie
John Moller
a military officer in a NZ Army unit in Vietnam
Wall to wall vision in soft technicolour
portraying the absolute adventure of war
and the most certain triumph of good over evil
There were no secrets in our war and perhaps
it’s just as well Vietnam invaded your lounges
whilst you ate your supper and fidgeted at
the sight of immodest decapitation and the sounds
of napalm crucifying the backs of running children.
For otherwise you would believe
the greatest lie of them all:
War is not real,
War is a Hollywood image,
War is fun.
portraying the absolute adventure of war
and the most certain triumph of good over evil
There were no secrets in our war and perhaps
it’s just as well Vietnam invaded your lounges
whilst you ate your supper and fidgeted at
the sight of immodest decapitation and the sounds
of napalm crucifying the backs of running children.
For otherwise you would believe
the greatest lie of them all:
War is not real,
War is a Hollywood image,
War is fun.
Archibald Baxter’s Poetry
A collection of some of his works edited by Caitlin Duff: Download here
Poems
If I must dieRefaat Alareer (1979 - 2023)
Lest We Forget
Frances Palmer
for Auckland Museum's 2026 'Lest We Forget' poetry competition
Remembering War
Audrey van Ryn 12 April 2026
for Auckland Museum's 2026 'Lest We Forget' poetry competition
The Soldier and The Poet
28 July 2025
The C.O’s
6 November 2018
Kevin Clements with thanks to Leunig
22 August 2015
The Reading of the Names
11 August 2015
In The Flanders Snow
11 August 2015
The Military Museum
John Moller
a military officer in a NZ Army unit in Vietnam
The Greatest Lie
John Moller
a military officer in a NZ Army unit in Vietnam