Why wear a poppy

billzhao

  
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“Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
; n: b+ ?" O* p1 F9 P+ x7 H And held one forth, but I shook my head
6 Y5 H/ P& z- y  }) q1 _Then I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
  n" o5 z4 n- m% b1 A' Y+ U- RHer face was old, and lined with care,
6 b3 G7 W/ F" h. [Yet beneath the scars, the years had made
' o/ O/ a$ k3 c$ CThere remained a smile that refused to fade.

6 R1 D6 w6 }, f$ VA 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
5 l" u/ {, _! S& z! ]# s“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
% g# g( Z# a% R0 UThe lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered “this is remembrance day”
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“The poppy is the symbol for the,
- F$ K5 y2 X7 I% r5 A0 _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”
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“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”
) a& N' k0 `) {2 L9 d* u3 rAs 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,
1 u. @0 e& i5 TBut he seemed to be with us a such a short while
When the War broke out he went away
) J$ E" O5 q) q. ?' GI can still remember his face that day
/ U) q( O: K/ MWhen he smiled at me and said goodbye
' m$ ~* E" J$ Y$ ~“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”

9 ?  f6 Q( i1 G5 EBut the War went on and he had to stay
All I could do was wait and pray
# A, P/ n% `) t; O8 r  ]His 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
! ^1 }) z/ L6 u$ e+ k0 o$ s) _And the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire
Until at last the War was won
4 h8 |, O' ?. C( W  eAnd that is why we wear the poppy son

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
% S  |* Q4 d4 U “But your son, did he come home all right”?
. k2 Z7 a; W0 b: r$ W; S% ^A tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
But didn’t speak.
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I slunk away, head bowed in shame,
8 y7 J- U) ]( F5 U3 mAnd if you were me, you’d have done the same,
For our thanks in giving is often delayed
- C8 B9 [# [1 [( hThough our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.

/ S* y  a2 a& F  O; B7 R3 }9 yAnd so, when you see a poppy worn
7 {: W5 D; h& `* H0 D& D$ _7 ?( j3 vLet us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their precious all
When asked to answer their countries call
4 i9 _6 z9 q% D# NThat we at home, in peace may live
" z# b* [( g$ y+ l# l; p+ A$ pThen wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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