Why wear a poppy

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! ~' M( ]# Q- A0 I8 u+ J& O “Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
' K1 e* {9 k3 Y4 B# U5 a' [& z/ M  N And held one forth, but I shook my head
Then I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
- }+ u  t# ?0 I9 WHer face was old, and lined with care,
Yet beneath the scars, the years had made
( N2 _0 g3 b3 s/ }There remained a smile that refused to fade.
8 t) Q- r9 E. E$ l' t
6 F. M7 U, p8 yA boy came whistling down the street
Bounding along on his carefree feet
His smile was full of joy and fun
“Lady” he said, “can I have one?
. h% N9 H- [! |As she pinned it on I heard him say
“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
3 Z" H+ o; x: P9 b" ]6 ~* IThe lady smiled in her wistful way
( E, z- B1 z2 ]1 tAnd answered “this is remembrance day”
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9 O' q% R8 J9 F  g2 z9 Z“The poppy is the symbol for the,
The 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”
) s$ k5 t2 n3 C7 B4 [6 F
“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”
4 r) S6 a# {% u7 aAs the years went by he learnt and grew, and became a man as you will to”,
He was fine and strong with a boyish smile,
But he seemed to be with us a such a short while
) E# `: b' B. V8 c+ MWhen the War broke out he went away
I can still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said goodbye
“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”

, M: ~" @* }# a  [But the War went on and he had to stay
All I could do was wait and pray
) Z: p9 o& X; Q+ IHis 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
6 H; Z3 x7 K" l; ?6 O8 ?And the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire
Until at last the War was won
And that is why we wear the poppy son

; `% I$ l6 m) @* a- D0 sThe 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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) ~! }, p7 {" f3 O  x) ~I slunk away, head bowed in shame,
% s. o1 M; I' wAnd if you were me, you’d have done the same,
$ f1 R: s1 ?% ?, f' YFor our thanks in giving is often delayed
Though our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.

And so, when you see a poppy worn
1 O6 c( }9 z( kLet us reflect on the burden borne
! C/ c1 I0 r5 w: H- j/ ABy those who gave their precious all
When asked to answer their countries call
' p3 u5 t' Z: Q. @+ b$ rThat we at home, in peace may live
Then wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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