Why wear a poppy

billzhao

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“Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
3 I8 z" k6 K, X$ z1 Q( |4 `- e$ H And held one forth, but I shook my head
% v$ c$ f0 S" F7 d+ ^/ P! bThen I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
* ^" M' O" [3 EHer face was old, and lined with care,
: P) q0 @! L: C2 SYet beneath the scars, the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street
" w" a2 b3 V/ DBounding along on his carefree feet
1 ~4 T. x9 M  j7 F/ r, V! [His smile was full of joy and fun
“Lady” he said, “can I have one?
As she pinned it on I heard him say
$ }7 t7 z% |) D“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered “this is remembrance day”
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" G2 v" |' w* w3 u5 v4 y) z“The poppy is the symbol for the,
- P4 r! g2 @7 l0 x9 V. Q4 CThe gallant men and women who died in the war”.
“And because they did we are free, that’s why we wear the poppy you see”
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% Q- j  V! w8 A/ Z“I had a boy about your size, with golden hair and big blue eyes,
He loved to play and jump and shout, free as a bird he would race about”
As the years went by he learnt and grew, and became a man as you will to”,
+ l6 K! Z5 R* T# qHe was fine and strong with a boyish smile,
But he seemed to be with us a such a short while
" B; x1 ?: z) T+ ?When the War broke out he went away
I can still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said goodbye
; B6 K3 o. q! ~% j. H  |“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”
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6 y; t/ j  ~9 ]# _2 ~" n0 o' ?( P- yBut the War went on and he had to stay
All I could do was wait and pray
His letters told of an awful fight
I can see it still in my dreams at night
. k( y. k- l9 V; a) H5 U: ~5 QWith the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire
5 b: P# W& P- @3 W  o7 @Until at last the War was won
And that is why we wear the poppy son
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. p  c4 Q) i$ C2 g8 MThe small boy turned as if to go
Then stopped and said “Thank you lady, I’m glad I know”
That sure did sound like an awful fight
“But your son, did he come home all right”?
; J9 g. j- r2 e( g* y2 h) [, fA tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
& l7 H/ g5 w- u) z& X# `! jBut didn’t speak.

, D  Q8 E- ]/ E: _) j4 bI slunk away, head bowed in shame,
And if you were me, you’d have done the same,
+ @9 y) V5 A8 Z8 {$ NFor our thanks in giving is often delayed
, ^2 {0 ~$ O1 i2 ]4 P/ W+ L3 Y3 YThough our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.

( h" m$ U4 H! l# ^9 wAnd so, when you see a poppy worn
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their precious all
/ w4 b/ N6 z: \  [" b# PWhen asked to answer their countries call
% i$ l/ W. D# a$ y9 LThat we at home, in peace may live
Then wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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