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
Then I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
0 z. R9 R5 q  f1 b6 MHer face was old, and lined with care,
7 l/ U& L" q+ Q0 Q0 d, Q0 q; iYet beneath the scars, the years had made
$ ^+ a+ t' r/ B9 O+ [, OThere remained a smile that refused to fade.

) r8 D* k$ `. _6 wA 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
“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered “this is remembrance day”
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“The poppy is the symbol for the,
% r! k  ~: h2 |9 m7 j  bThe gallant men and women who died in the war”.
+ @: \1 q% Q0 _ “And because they did we are free, that’s why we wear the poppy you see”

$ ^7 c: n4 I  L6 }2 d9 P0 w( D“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”
( ^0 W* q' [3 s  ~9 n- n+ M. iAs the years went by he learnt and grew, and became a man as you will to”,
" x2 j; Z, f/ V6 f8 pHe was fine and strong with a boyish smile,
8 u5 g9 N3 c% ?# o9 Y1 {& eBut 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
* P& q: Q. q  h0 C: EWhen he smiled at me and said goodbye
“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”
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But the War went on and he had to stay
All I could do was wait and pray
$ {8 r/ `$ I% \9 n- u2 `His letters told of an awful fight
I can see it still in my dreams at night
: s$ ~: c$ D! ^+ aWith the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
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
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- a* \7 I# [( \The 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.

; Q9 K6 _- T2 U$ C4 [I slunk away, head bowed in shame,
: j# _- r* u6 h; c5 m2 sAnd if you were me, you’d have done the same,
7 t: Q) w0 ?, i! {. AFor 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
Let us reflect on the burden borne
$ _/ H* W; O/ v( s0 }1 [( v" uBy those who gave their precious all
When asked to answer their countries call
2 D- m- M2 a* ?8 u' ^, `2 T8 QThat we at home, in peace may live
4 ~. K4 F6 [& ^+ VThen wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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