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
% T8 w4 I* v1 u1 r5 [) kThen I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
Her face was old, and lined with care,
Yet beneath the scars, the years had made
: B6 p/ d9 L2 [# A2 dThere remained a smile that refused to fade.
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) E) l7 I4 u" q7 @A boy came whistling down the street
6 ?$ t! E% D" W# I! Q: aBounding along on his carefree feet
4 c* r' d; u6 ?) @& E/ UHis smile was full of joy and fun
“Lady” he said, “can I have one?
( P$ a" R' h+ H+ O! zAs she pinned it on I heard him say
. L  f4 \2 C5 m3 [% a$ e. N“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered “this is remembrance day”

“The poppy is the symbol for the,
% F( o8 ^3 n2 [2 ]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”

3 g2 Q9 {& h5 v0 I/ R6 {7 X“I had a boy about your size, with golden hair and big blue eyes,
1 x  ~, K0 l% F2 |# v4 KHe loved to play and jump and shout, free as a bird he would race about”
# U$ M- d7 s9 K% T2 B' LAs the years went by he learnt and grew, and became a man as you will to”,
2 m1 r  {/ G5 Y6 Y( n  P. KHe was fine and strong with a boyish smile,
- W5 Q5 j7 V7 O) Y/ MBut he seemed to be with us a such a short while
When the War broke out he went away
! C( Q& ?7 f; ]/ xI can still remember his face that day
* \4 A6 [$ u: q  N4 IWhen he smiled at me and said goodbye
3 x: n, D1 j4 b5 j0 o. A7 c' _9 E# s“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
His letters told of an awful fight
" R. g  c. R  A, m* u% nI can see it still in my dreams at night
+ L6 \. [2 L0 l8 q% p9 N' dWith the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
: W' u% `* |: Q5 {3 [9 `4 J  B% GAnd 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
$ ]4 z# z, C5 e" hThen stopped and said “Thank you lady, I’m glad I know”
+ v  l2 P) z# C9 hThat sure did sound like an awful fight
+ V. W/ [: r, j4 s6 \ “But your son, did he come home all right”?
6 n9 T- h1 I! J1 \- \6 S& }A tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
  Y) k4 }) ?( h! X9 @But didn’t speak.
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# q3 p. [2 E) ]' a) \I slunk away, head bowed in shame,
  j% b# U7 |. w$ F0 aAnd if you were me, you’d have done the same,
6 x, {  z+ J, Y. y8 N5 Y  |For our thanks in giving is often delayed
Though our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.

* p$ m8 J% l! j/ gAnd so, when you see a poppy worn
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their precious all
When asked to answer their countries call
- M% \; }  u, ?. PThat we at home, in peace may live
Then wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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