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Topic: Why Wear A Poppy ? (Read 126 times)
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EARL DONALDSON
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Why Wear A Poppy ?
"Please wear a poppy", the lady said
And held one forth , but i shook my head .
Then i stopped and watched as she offered them there ,
And her face was old and lined with care ;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade .
A boy came whistling down the street ,
Bouncing along on care-free feet .
His smile was so full of joy and fun ,
And , "Lady" , said he , "may i have one ?"
When she'd pinned it on he turned to say ,
"Why do we wear these things today ?'
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered , "Why this is Rememberance Day",
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war .
And because they did , you and i are free -
That's why we wear a poppy , you see .
"And 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 learned and grew
And became a man-as you will , too.
"He was fine and strong , with a boyish smile ,
But he seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away .
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said , Goodbye ,
I'll be back soon , Mom , so please don't cry'.
"But the war went on and he had to stay ,
And all i could do was wait and pray .
His letters told of the awful fight ,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night) ,
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire ,
And the mines and bullets , the bombs and fire .
"Till at last the war was won -
And that's why we wear a poppy , son".
The small boy turned as if to go ,
Then said , "thanks , lady , I'm glad to know .
That sure did sound like an awful fight ,
But your son- did he come back all right ?"
A tear rolled down each faded cheek ;
She shook her head , but didn't speak .
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same ;
For our thanks , in giving , is oft delayed ,
Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid !
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we , smug ones , may see the sun .
Wear a poppy , then it says : "Well Done!"
The above poem was written back in the sixties, by the late comrade
Don Crawford WW 2 Veteran, and a member of RCL # 244 ,
Perth-Upon-Tay , Ontario . Don's poem has appeared in many magazines
and publications , around the world . "LEST WE FORGET"
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Posts: 2657
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Yes, " Lest We Forget "... ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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