In Flanders Fields
Posted by Skrud at Friday, November 11th 2005 at 11:00am
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row and 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.- Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Reply to Flanders Fields
Oh! sleep in peace where poppies grow; The torch your falling hands let go Was caught by us, again held high, A beacon light in Flanders sky That dims the stars to those below. You are our dead, you held the foe, And ere the poppies cease to blow, We’ll prove our faith in you who lie In Flanders Fields. Oh! rest in peace, we quickly go To you who bravely died, and know In other fields was heard the cry, For freedom’s cause, of you who lie, So still asleep where poppies grow, In Flanders Fields.
As in rumbling sound, to and fro, The lightning flashes, sky aglow, The mighty hosts appear, and high Above the din of battle cry, Scarce heard amidst the guns below, Are fearless hearts who fight the foe, And guard the place where poppies grow. Oh! sleep in peace, all you who lie In Flanders Fields.
And still the poppies gently blow, Between the crosses, row on row. The larks, still bravely soaring high, Are singing now their lullaby To you who sleep where poppies grow In Flanders Fields.
I’m not a poet like either John But I know well this topic upon, For many years, the very foundation Of history classes of this nation Was taught to us, and now we lead To teach our children of poppie seeds And of the flowers that then emerge In Flanders Fields.
If metaphors are not your thing Then out of these, I’ll help you bring The real meaning of why you see Four-petaled poppies on stuff this week. You see, our country has known wars So for past soldiers, we adorn The poppies from the battle we lost In Flanders Fields.
In Flanders Fields the poppies blew Between the crosses, yes it’s true And though we’ve died in many fights Our John McCrae chose words so right To represent the ends of wars Regardless of means that they were for. From symbols we have, from maples to geese, The Poppies express our nation of peace.
BTW, the title of the above is “Another Reply To Flanders Fields”.