“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,
Scarcely 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.
–Author John McCrae, was a Canadian citizen, born November 30, 1872, died January 28, 1918 of Pneumonia
- Flanders Fields is the name of World War I battlefields located in the medieval County of Flanders, in the country of Belgium.The poem is a promise to remember those who have died in war.
- “The torch; be yours to hold it high”… is a call for those living not to forget the dead who are buried in a foreign land. It demands that the living remember why the fallen died, so that they did not die in vain. It is a call for remembrance from those who have died to those who live.
- Flanders spans southern Belgium and north-western France.
WWI started in October July 28, 1914 and ended November 11, 1918.
The most commonly held belief is that Colonel John McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields” on May 3, 1915. It is said to have been written on the day after presiding over the funeral and burial of his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who had been killed during the Second Battle of Ypres. (pronounced ee-prah)
It is also believed that the poem was written as John sat upon the back of a medical field ambulance near an advance dressing post at Essex Farm, just north of Ypres.
Due to the tremendous disturbance of the earth from cannon shells and the nitrogen from them, the poppies exceeded normal presence in those fields for several more years.
Poppies are a show of support for the Armed Forces community, for those currently serving, past-serving military personnel and their families.
The poppy flower is a symbol of remembrance for all those who have fallen in military conflict. In addition, the poppy signifies hope for a positive future and a peaceful world.
*Type “Flanders Fields” in your browser for more interesting information about World War One and Flanders Fields in the country of Belgium.
And in remembrance, may we all work to resist the insanity of war so that peace between nations of the world may one day be achieved. If half of the mothers in the world would write a stop the insanity of war to the United Nations and major country leaders, maybe we’d have a chance for world peace. Wouldn’t hurt to try, eh? Thank You. Blooming Bobville, the positive response practical poet for the common good.
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