Why wear a poppy

billzhao

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“Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head
1 N6 @2 |0 C* Z8 q* {* G+ @6 mThen I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
, K5 v3 [# [" v  zHer face was old, and lined with care,
2 u. o3 s4 n- T, Q$ [7 KYet beneath the scars, the years had made
( U" f; G! S% X' s+ y" WThere remained a smile that refused to fade.
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A boy came whistling down the street
2 q0 q' ^/ n- K3 RBounding along on his carefree feet
His smile was full of joy and fun
“Lady” he said, “can I have one?
9 ^9 w) C( D& q- `. z% z( hAs she pinned it on I heard him say
6 O# M& s# b6 g“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
8 d2 h0 [# D7 x. D, P2 ?( Q. wThe lady smiled in her wistful way
% U  }. T4 g' _- wAnd answered “this is remembrance day”
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“The poppy is the symbol for the,
The gallant men and women who died in the war”.
: d" O; A& r, a1 h8 D* U1 V& m “And because they did we are free, that’s why we wear the poppy you see”
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“I had a boy about your size, with golden hair and big blue eyes,
9 i  A3 {) ^5 g3 e1 _/ |- yHe 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”,
- o) S, r+ a. P! _1 K$ ~5 kHe was fine and strong with a boyish smile,
) D4 _& y! z/ ~0 w2 cBut he seemed to be with us a such a short while
When the War broke out he went away
I can still remember his face that day
: s$ @/ k* r  l0 N% |" _When he smiled at me and said goodbye
( A  a" h; a6 R0 m“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”

- q$ R- k+ h/ v& \+ M. X& PBut 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
With the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
2 Y8 H. U6 r" f- ~: AAnd the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire
& }; ^$ F' I. U. V3 c( y7 tUntil at last the War was won
And that is why we wear the poppy son
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. g8 y) N, I  L8 H/ pThe 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”?
A tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
But didn’t speak.
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I slunk away, head bowed in shame,
And if you were me, you’d have done the same,
For our thanks in giving is often delayed
* V+ d3 ~8 d7 R! rThough our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.

" Q9 {. U4 S" B+ [1 |1 lAnd so, when you see a poppy worn
Let us reflect on the burden borne
3 l$ P' h( y+ }" ?" `8 V& N4 \By those who gave their precious all
When asked to answer their countries call
That we at home, in peace may live
3 r7 {2 U- z$ q0 [5 [9 cThen wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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