Why wear a poppy

billzhao

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“Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
3 t8 u/ K2 o5 u# p+ C5 v6 h4 o, P And held one forth, but I shook my head
" ^2 U" j$ |3 j7 m' e, X% {Then I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
% ]+ J9 a5 v: N; O* aHer face was old, and lined with care,
Yet beneath the scars, the years had made
1 r+ z; M" j; J5 [8 NThere remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street
3 ?: @4 P4 B* IBounding along on his carefree feet
, P7 d9 \7 N* Z( L& \, N1 \His smile was full of joy and fun
“Lady” he said, “can I have one?
As she pinned it on I heard him say
* z% s) f1 y: K$ f“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
5 t1 \) \5 ^2 M  U4 }; }3 i# GThe lady smiled in her wistful way
' t. O& x$ z+ @& u3 E  SAnd answered “this is remembrance day”
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; Q" f- q3 n! Q& c* j“The poppy is the symbol for the,
* w$ M3 u" a& hThe gallant men and women who died in the war”.
$ @# C9 {# \" \- X3 w! ^6 ?4 R4 g “And because they did we are free, that’s why we wear the poppy you see”

4 u5 i" g7 G) Z+ F0 N“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”,
9 @: g, @, [( q0 B$ I  F5 yHe was fine and strong with a boyish smile,
But he seemed to be with us a such a short while
- _# [# }: C  ?/ \5 p+ u# A/ E0 PWhen the War broke out he went away
I can still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said goodbye
, h8 r' c+ ]0 L/ G+ {“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”
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But the War went on and he had to stay
- I  @# ]. Z% P  p% o- d+ oAll I could do was wait and pray
' }* y, G% N# X& {; DHis letters told of an awful fight
I can see it still in my dreams at night
0 ?* ]2 f" c9 B9 P: Q+ f6 L* {With the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
+ m- g( N" e. A0 p6 J- ZAnd the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire
Until at last the War was won
' ], y- @( ~' R0 k: i0 m, Z  DAnd that is why we wear the poppy son
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The 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
2 t* I" n  X$ P5 l/ |( \ “But your son, did he come home all right”?
" S3 ^; j$ y/ zA tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
6 m! X6 p# P4 }But didn’t speak.
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3 q7 W3 i# R/ u1 ^1 BI slunk away, head bowed in shame,
* j7 l, v, x2 x5 r$ |+ TAnd if you were me, you’d have done the same,
For our thanks in giving is often delayed
  [( E4 E& J, b7 pThough our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.

* d( G9 L: N- n) ?6 Q" RAnd so, when you see a poppy worn
3 K$ X" D- a- D% C% E: ALet us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their precious all
  W* P' @6 E2 r+ V$ t6 H& T# GWhen asked to answer their countries call
0 f1 w5 J* v. z( qThat we at home, in peace may live
- J/ ]* U& P( k; S% T$ v  j) ~Then wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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