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Thread: Why Wear a Poppy by Don Crawford

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Posts
    1,940

    Default Why Wear a Poppy by Don Crawford

    Will you wear a poppy?" the lady said
    And held one forth, but I shook my head.
    Then I stopped and watched to see how she’d fare
    Her face was old and lined with care.
    But beneath the scars the years had made
    There remained a smile that refused to fade.

    A boy came whistling down the street
    Bouncing along on carefree feet.
    His smile was full of joy and fun
    "Lady’, he said, "May I have one?"
    As she pinned it on I heard him say
    "Why do we wear a poppy today?"



    The lady smiled in her wistful way
    And answered, "This is ANZAC Day.
    The poppy there is the symbol for
    The gallant men who died in our war.
    And because they did, you and I are free
    That’s why we wear a poppy you see."



    "I had a boy about your size
    With golden hair and big blue eyes.
    He loved to jump and play and shout
    Free as a bird he would race about
    As years went on he learned and grew
    And became a man as you will, too."



    "He was fine and strong with a boyish smile
    But he seemed with us such a little while.
    When war broke out he went away
    I still remember his face that day.
    When he smiled at me and said ‘Goodbye
    I’ll be back soon so please don’t cry.’"



    "But the war went on so he had to stay
    All I could do was wait and pray.
    His letters told of the awful fight
    I can still see it in my dreams at night.
    With tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire
    And mines and bullets, the bombs and fire."



    'Til at last the war was won
    "And that’s why we wear a poppy, son."
    The small boy turned as if to go
    Then said, "Thanks lady, I’m glad to know.
    That sure did sound like an awful fight
    But your son, did he come home all right?"



    A tear rolled down each faded cheek
    She shook her head but didn’t speak.
    I slunk away, head bowed in shame
    And if you were with me, you’d have done the same.
    For our thanks in giving is oft delayed
    Though the freedom was bought and thousands paid.



    And so you see, when a poppy is worn
    Let us reflect on the burden borne.
    By those who gave their very all
    When asked to answer their country’s call.
    That we are home in peace may live
    Then wear a poppy, remember and give.



    by Don Crawford




  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Caithness
    Posts
    4,927

    Default

    In Flanders Fields

    by John McCrae, May 1915

    In Flanders fields the poppies blow
    Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

    Scarce heard amid the guns below.
    We are the Dead. Short days ago
    We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie
    In Flanders fields.

    Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
    We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
    In Flanders fields.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Caithness
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    4,927

    Default

    Trinkie, thanks for starting this thread and, as you can see, I've added my contribution.

    Would it be possible for you and any future contributors to add a little bit about the authors of the poems?

    Here's just a wee bit about John McCrae.

    "Inspiration for the poem — In Flanders Fields

    During the Second Battle of Ypres a Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2 May, 1915 by an exploding shell. He was a friend of the Canadian military doctor Major John McCrae.
    John was asked to conduct the burial service owing to the chaplain being called away on duty elsewhere. It is believed that later that evening John began the draft for his famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'."
    Inspiration for In Flanders Fields
    Last edited by Moira; 04-Nov-10 at 21:53. Reason: adding quotes

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Nr. Thurso
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    935

    Default

    An American, Miss Moina Belle Michael, read In Flanders’ Fields and wrote a reply entitled -
    WE SHALL KEEP THE FAITH.
    Oh! You who sleep in Flanders’ fields,
    Sleep sweet - to rise anew,
    We caught the torch you threw,
    And holding high we kept
    The faith with those who died.
    We cherish too, the poppy red
    That grows on fields where valour led.
    It seems to signal to the skies
    That blood of heroes never dies,
    But lends a lustre to the red
    Of the flower that blooms above the dead
    In Flanders’ fields.
    And now the torch and poppy red
    Wear in honour of our dead.
    Fear not that ye have died for naught
    We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught
    In Flanders’ fields.

  5. #5

    Thumbs up Poppies

    Thank-you for these most beautiful poems, they just touch your heart and having read all three I cry as I sit here. I will be ever grateful to them.

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