Why wear a poppy

billzhao

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! \: z6 [" L/ s& O( r& N “Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
2 O5 [# y, p& H2 B( r And held one forth, but I shook my head
Then I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
Her face was old, and lined with care,
% k, A# u$ U& W# d  RYet beneath the scars, the years had made
& v* E9 n# H8 v- m) BThere remained a smile that refused to fade.
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% q: ]" G( J+ i$ lA boy came whistling down the street
Bounding along on his carefree feet
His smile was full of joy and fun
" |: u3 E, P0 ]9 P7 n1 ] “Lady” he said, “can I have one?
9 D/ s' D1 ?1 R3 hAs she pinned it on I heard him say
# R; H, E% k& ]6 n4 \0 f6 }4 x“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
4 Z; F* b1 I& O/ |' ~, R8 z; H0 \! }And answered “this is remembrance day”

) G$ j+ ^, J) H8 ^$ k“The poppy is the symbol for the,
; R1 y/ w- B) {6 bThe 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”

“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”
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
" N: T& u0 k" M9 W# g: A6 `! DWhen the War broke out he went away
I can still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said goodbye
2 I( P; P! E$ |3 I/ G7 [$ ]4 J$ a“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”
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5 |1 P8 t4 q+ ]  \* t0 z" _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
, Z3 w; d5 w- g% \5 N4 \I 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
3 s$ L, K/ h; ]Until at last the War was won
And that is why we wear the poppy son
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  X5 d6 a  k5 S, I/ A( s- yThe small boy turned as if to go
Then stopped and said “Thank you lady, I’m glad I know”
" L( {* V7 J! M7 |4 ~9 M& S/ Y% LThat 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
But didn’t speak.

3 f3 K( |4 K9 _, ?! uI slunk away, head bowed in shame,
) \/ Y0 K/ |2 e6 WAnd 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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% W8 P8 p0 Q. c3 u9 S1 rAnd so, when you see a poppy worn
! q6 e& Z4 M; u( H; x3 F; }# JLet us reflect on the burden borne
5 d$ w% w  y0 \- `3 I3 `By those who gave their precious all
1 M9 \' F+ g; [1 R- Q" LWhen asked to answer their countries call
" g2 a+ N; G/ G3 X2 w3 BThat we at home, in peace may live
9 O! {9 x. l4 jThen wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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