Poppies

[msmemory_archive]

This year, for the first time in my life, I haven't seen any aged veterans, forlornly selling paper poppies outside the supermarket. I think that's worse than actually seeing the dignified, shabby old men there.

Comments

[tpau]

what alwasy bothered me was the abscence of women anmong them. doesn't america have any female veterans??

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Not from WWI, I think.

[tpau]

hmm... peculiar

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

Thanks to another librarian friend of mine, I finally discerned the reason for the poppies.

In Flanders Fields
by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

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.