In Flanders Fields

Today is Remembrance Day or, as some refer to it, Armed Forces Day. First thing this morning a little girl came to our door collecting money for the VFW. In exchange for my meager offering she left me two lovely little 'Remembrance Poppies'. They made me think of the following poem, which we memorized a few years back as part of our homeschool studies. It was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) of the Canadian Army.

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
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.