Why wear a poppy

billzhao

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“Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
( X+ V/ o1 @! Z& a, y And held one forth, but I shook my head
+ |+ s- S6 D* s# {Then I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
4 c9 D9 {: G2 @6 P* BHer face was old, and lined with care,
# ~7 u/ `+ M+ V0 s3 ?8 MYet beneath the scars, the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
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A boy came whistling down the street
! g* |$ k. u. ]% `Bounding along on his carefree feet
* W+ a3 E0 o5 z1 s0 f9 t- ]0 R5 h+ xHis smile was full of joy and fun
/ \. F: v) Y$ A3 V1 Q, q “Lady” he said, “can I have one?
8 K4 q9 X% F, w9 J4 C% x" z" ZAs she pinned it on I heard him say
* u  Y& V9 @+ `# e  h, h, z4 ^# \+ ^“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
0 {+ E, o% ~: u3 AThe lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered “this is remembrance day”
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7 D1 p0 }$ r1 l! x) w( ^' S% T“The poppy is the symbol for the,
, c% ?4 ]+ @6 X! I9 ?' J# V! j4 \: LThe 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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8 M, L* F4 @$ O& G/ X“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”
! V9 m3 f, i- l3 c. W! d# KAs the years went by he learnt and grew, and became a man as you will to”,
' e3 `6 ?4 N  s, R9 @% V: _% NHe was fine and strong with a boyish smile,
& x+ X$ F; y$ r7 VBut he seemed to be with us a such a short while
4 X6 g) Y9 Y* }& Q% LWhen the War broke out he went away
I can still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said goodbye
+ w+ L7 w' C# n; c7 |2 f“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”

% S9 b2 K& Q$ pBut the War went on and he had to stay
6 |9 n: P# M& Z( }All I could do was wait and pray
% T! j- D2 b6 L- UHis letters told of an awful fight
" X* T8 H- Q8 pI can see it still in my dreams at night
2 ?2 w7 K$ b; W8 W! U/ PWith the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire
' m/ h2 O( G2 _/ X# IUntil at last the War was won
And that is why we wear the poppy son

$ M* @. G6 _( NThe small boy turned as if to go
Then stopped and said “Thank you lady, I’m glad I know”
, `  u; }9 ^( ?( D& D" gThat sure did sound like an awful fight
) P+ Y) H& c$ `" F/ a* V4 E “But your son, did he come home all right”?
: @0 A; J# O+ y" ]0 y2 x+ Q# i! QA tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
9 F* j- [; q- h3 X9 tBut didn’t speak.
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I slunk away, head bowed in shame,
; {9 l, y* E; f& U, U8 c' aAnd if you were me, you’d have done the same,
For our thanks in giving is often delayed
5 p2 a# a5 |; m( XThough our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.

And so, when you see a poppy worn
+ J8 q7 ^: A5 r1 k; YLet us reflect on the burden borne
8 v+ d' h% v7 r3 a0 EBy those who gave their precious all
When asked to answer their countries call
7 T- k( o5 h6 q2 t3 x3 UThat we at home, in peace may live
Then wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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