Why wear a poppy

billzhao

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8 [$ y/ R+ _. T7 W( z: W2 S “Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
- G4 _0 ]8 d; [' r$ E' j( c And held one forth, but I shook my head
Then I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
Her face was old, and lined with care,
: C/ r! K2 I, X, uYet beneath the scars, the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
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$ l; E- Z+ Y2 b# M  ~+ HA 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?
As she pinned it on I heard him say
2 `; b; A4 s4 f" |: I“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
5 `+ p+ \0 }; D; gAnd answered “this is remembrance day”
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“The poppy is the symbol for the,
* T, k; y* C5 K! Z9 XThe 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”

“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”
+ C% A7 c  Y+ F$ a, KAs the years went by he learnt and grew, and became a man as you will to”,
- X9 ^& f4 g% F* j3 AHe was fine and strong with a boyish smile,
4 S; w+ C3 d+ bBut he seemed to be with us a such a short while
; K5 K3 F. `8 b0 q& rWhen the War broke out he went away
I can still remember his face that day
) T9 h$ K. }, h% X0 |( ^, M4 \When he smiled at me and said goodbye
“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”

But the War went on and he had to stay
All I could do was wait and pray
His letters told of an awful fight
5 t. Y7 F$ k" x' t- w4 o3 RI can see it still in my dreams at night
# g/ _; l7 ~! J+ u& |1 g- f0 _: D, W/ pWith the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
, ?& ^% n# G3 D+ pAnd 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
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The small boy turned as if to go
Then stopped and said “Thank you lady, I’m glad I know”
2 j" X$ `" `! ^/ s: PThat sure did sound like an awful fight
' k  p2 t6 A" O1 B: V “But your son, did he come home all right”?
" D7 [# w8 n& Z, I, ]  U! XA tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
; f# L/ Q; H7 m# B( |  W  {But didn’t speak.

/ l. s" i- U( aI slunk away, head bowed in shame,
And if you were me, you’d have done the same,
. \  e4 S6 |: W) TFor our thanks in giving is often delayed
Though our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.
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# j: j7 B: z& UAnd so, when you see a poppy worn
  w, N$ A, b# O/ ~& C# gLet us reflect on the burden borne
" `: s# v6 O. B1 dBy those who gave their precious all
When asked to answer their countries call
# V' T9 x- u4 _That we at home, in peace may live
Then wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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