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Bing -> In Flaners Fields (5/23/2003 9:52:56 PM)
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Anticipating a little, thought I would post this Memorial Day tribute now, when I was thinking of it. John McCrae was serving with the BEF in France during WW1; he wrote this poem in a matter of minutes. The London Times refused to print it initially, believing it was too depressing.
We hardly ever hear or see this poem now, which does not diminish McCrae's thoughts on armed conflict. They are among the best ever:
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.
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Note that the first line is often misquoted, being mistaken for the last line.
Bing
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