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
" f6 N4 L- a& Y' M6 L# fThen I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
Her face was old, and lined with care,
1 {" s( H8 r- @2 BYet beneath the scars, the years had made
3 Z9 l  J5 O3 r3 Z# U7 TThere remained a smile that refused to fade.

3 ]8 O" _8 q8 b8 A, M/ WA boy came whistling down the street
! |; L) `1 ^) J# CBounding along on his carefree feet
. U( a9 j1 n1 P) B  z. ?5 E+ kHis smile was full of joy and fun
+ m8 f& }7 C, P9 u* s* F, f' } “Lady” he said, “can I have one?
5 B0 [- R: T  A9 g% k8 G9 WAs she pinned it on I heard him say
' D; |2 u0 @$ a4 d) y“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
" Q! M0 E. H9 w! n7 [: G+ \The lady smiled in her wistful way
* X/ G& }6 K" J3 X8 o( W% X! vAnd answered “this is remembrance day”

“The poppy is the symbol for the,
, T; Z" z5 j: L( B/ n, eThe 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”
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7 }( b  q* n2 V* A7 K5 `“I had a boy about your size, with golden hair and big blue eyes,
: Q2 y. |7 u2 ~+ _He loved to play and jump and shout, free as a bird he would race about”
% N$ a6 ?! ]6 @As 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
6 Y3 q! u* L' ^( n7 c- U' OWhen the War broke out he went away
I can still remember his face that day
3 \$ M) G' h# T, cWhen 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
His letters told of an awful fight
) \& p2 L# P$ d6 x% BI can see it still in my dreams at night
With 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
* r" }# {" e2 q% A- T! xAnd that is why we wear the poppy son
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5 Q4 F2 f! v' WThe small boy turned as if to go
Then stopped and said “Thank you lady, I’m glad I know”
/ `0 H; h2 b4 D' QThat sure did sound like an awful fight
" b- C3 A8 A4 m4 g* } “But your son, did he come home all right”?
A tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
1 Y% w- m6 w9 b+ @& P2 @But didn’t speak.

4 V# w' L. Z+ Z# UI slunk away, head bowed in shame,
' q! y( C8 C5 ~/ \% @1 xAnd if you were me, you’d have done the same,
For 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
  G% s. H& s0 X/ n6 n/ M0 ZLet us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their precious all
  q: P8 y' r, T' l. H7 x5 L0 hWhen asked to answer their countries call
# k$ v" d: [6 vThat we at home, in peace may live
Then wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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