November Poem: In Flanders Fields

November 11th is a poignant time in the UK, and acts as our day of remembrance. Usually accompanied by a two-minute silence, we are reminded that on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day of the eleventh month was the moment the guns of the First World War fell silent. Nowadays, it is common to see people wear poppies in November to serve as a reminder of all the soldiers across armed conflicts who have sacrificed their lives for a better tomorrow.

In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae

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.

RT