In Flanders Field

I thought I would create an entry just for a special poem with a heartfelt story...

"In Flanders Field" was written by Liet.Col. John McCrae, a Canadian surgeon in WWI. He wrote the poem during the battle in Ypres after burying a friend. Wild poppies were growing in the ditches amidst so much death and destruction. It has come to symbolize remembrance since the red of the flower is the colour of blood. The yellow/black centre represents the mud and desolation. The green stem represents the forests and field where so many died. The poem is now also a haunting song.

John McCrae, himself, died later in the war in 1918. His last words were, "If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep." How fitting...







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.