Earlier in the year I mentioned that the only item I seem to collect are poppies. I my love of this flower is due to the famous World War 1 poem In Flander's Field by Major John McCrae. Growing up in Canada Veteran’s Day is known as Remembrance Day and it is traditional to wear a red poppy pin to symbolize your remembrance and respect for those that died in service to our country and to honor the living veterans. Every year when we observed Remembrance Day in school one student got the honor of reciting the poem over the intercom. I was never chosen although I always wanted that honor. In memory of that, I share the story and poem with my students every year.
It has become my favorite poem and seeing as today we are observing Veteran’s Day I figured it would be appropriate to share John McCrae’s poem In Flander’s Field. Written in May of 1915, McCrae was grieving the recent death of a friend at the Battle of Ypres and therefore penned these words…
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.