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
* Q1 N' j5 z" e2 JThen I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
; Q6 g3 `8 `: i) }5 }Her face was old, and lined with care,
Yet beneath the scars, the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
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A boy came whistling down the street
) @: c- a0 [6 zBounding along on his carefree feet
- `  W+ v% D  jHis smile was full of joy and fun
“Lady” he said, “can I have one?
0 I6 F4 D2 W, ]As she pinned it on I heard him say
: `. z2 R; o* y& u; ?* @“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
, S" ~+ v8 t! y. E4 a5 m8 aAnd answered “this is remembrance day”
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. f6 L9 J: F  g5 ~( S“The poppy is the symbol for the,
$ b) N* G1 D8 _4 sThe gallant men and women who died in the war”.
9 L7 ^" k: K0 e: a" b “And because they did we are free, that’s why we wear the poppy you see”
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0 {; E: b1 I" Z8 W: W“I had a boy about your size, with golden hair and big blue eyes,
( k7 b3 X  a- g8 R# B3 ^6 }  G, bHe loved to play and jump and shout, free as a bird he would race about”
1 k. N, x' X: X+ n; DAs 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,
/ d2 I$ J0 _9 JBut he seemed to be with us a such a short while
5 S2 y" {& o( m" RWhen the War broke out he went away
! Q: r- s- p, w/ E6 xI can still remember his face that day
7 w- E# u! s7 YWhen he smiled at me and said goodbye
3 V: `  G# i( z! h8 T4 w“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”
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But the War went on and he had to stay
' h1 P/ l! u6 w$ X3 ?: {All I could do was wait and pray
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
- ?. d, b% R8 q8 Z/ h) {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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' Q4 a3 r- _; a/ L; N' H( Y+ OThe small boy turned as if to go
" t, f5 G: o+ B# e. I2 v& mThen 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
  h6 h0 z% ^8 gBut didn’t speak.
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6 A7 ~4 D5 @! D* {$ RI slunk away, head bowed in shame,
4 D1 ?$ R6 _) z7 P/ @% aAnd 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.
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And so, when you see a poppy worn
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their precious all
/ o! w+ F1 a4 A7 V) MWhen asked to answer their countries call
That we at home, in peace may live
$ `/ L# i! x3 x- k  X8 nThen wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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