Why wear a poppy

billzhao

. e; r6 P7 c+ [/ ?  z
4 i, p% K: O( j. x# i2 a3 t  

“Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
7 y9 s0 u, i; h3 h) \$ D9 G And held one forth, but I shook my head
- Y5 o" Z: X  b4 `2 |0 J$ ~/ bThen 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
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
4 Y9 d" e- X, K
A boy came whistling down the street
Bounding along on his carefree feet
/ s- i8 H9 I/ t, RHis smile was full of joy and fun
“Lady” he said, “can I have one?
1 f' m$ `  v; _, y" ^8 XAs she pinned it on I heard him say
& P0 F0 J3 c' S: T  P: K7 L" I% U: |“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
3 m" R1 m+ T- _8 r$ qAnd answered “this is remembrance day”

) ~- I1 p+ j6 d- {) \“The poppy is the symbol for the,
1 @& w7 k) ]/ v3 T3 N/ DThe 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”
1 c- T5 e2 ^& p/ u
+ i6 ^* d1 {+ S$ z* m; `“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”
6 P4 ]$ _9 Z3 q4 T# mAs 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
7 x' q% |  s% e9 ~' GWhen the War broke out he went away
! H% k7 w1 Q( D5 T" eI can still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said goodbye
“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”
* k" I+ u0 k: m& L
But the War went on and he had to stay
- N9 k% U- b) H* ~! O3 AAll I could do was wait and pray
* I5 Z* V1 m, _# B. ?His letters told of an awful fight
I can see it still in my dreams at night
0 U! e9 `" m! VWith the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
8 T! b. T/ l& y7 V$ R6 b- i3 \8 YAnd the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire
1 l" G2 e7 C* M% W5 j8 e0 fUntil at last the War was won
And that is why we wear the poppy son
7 N. L8 t% J! J/ C0 a- o+ g
% W$ r: x) g* z: \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
, R' H3 w) s3 h& D& Y4 G “But your son, did he come home all right”?
! {4 `1 y* T" wA tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
) A4 X5 ~2 w" }/ V$ B9 v3 f6 k% ABut didn’t speak.

# C. U, b' l$ \+ a8 _I slunk away, head bowed in shame,
And if you were me, you’d have done the same,
For our thanks in giving is often delayed
5 l, @) b5 b8 B7 K3 B0 K6 W3 v" GThough our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.

% s+ G* m  E3 A, U- y9 NAnd so, when you see a poppy worn
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their precious all
+ u+ S6 ]$ k5 B8 [) F+ rWhen asked to answer their countries call
! M1 M0 g/ i7 P* N; ?" g$ W& sThat we at home, in peace may live
Then wear a poppy, remember, and give.

方程式