In Flanders Fields
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.
~ John McCrae
(November 30, 1872 – January 28, 1918)
(November 30, 1872 – January 28, 1918)
The words never, ever fail to break my heart. And your picture is perfectly wonderful. I haven't seen poppies in buttonholes since I was a kid. I'm sure people still wear them, but I don't see them.
ReplyDeleteThe poem is heartbreaking. In Canada, almost everyone wears poppies for Remembrance Day. The Royal Canadian Legion sells them annually to raise money to assist veterans.
ReplyDeleteNov. 11 should be a mandatory national holiday, with all businesses shut down. I don't think that is too much to ask.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, I was going to copy and paste some info I read, but I thought instead I would give you the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetday_faq.asp
I was stunned to read that in the US poppies are for Memorial Day which is the day to honor those who died in the service, while Veterans Day (no apostrophe) is to honor all soldiers. I'll try to pay attention on Memorial Day and look for poppies. That's probably the day I remember them being sold as a kid.
Nan, thanks for the link. I was never sure what the difference was between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Also had no idea poppies were worn on Memorial Day.
ReplyDelete