Sunday, November 11, 2007

Flanders fields

On Armistice Day, here's a little poem, by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

6 comments:

Mr roT said...

Sandburg's original?

Tecumseh said...

Sanburg wrote "Grass" in 1918, three years after McCrae. Money back!

Arelcao Akleos said...

McRae was a Canadian, poor chap. When in Vancouver read an article in the V. Sun blasting the poet for having helped foster generations of a "false patriotism" in Canada.
Wonder what they would have said if he'd penned something like Star Spangled Banner

Mr roT said...

all canadian patriotism is false

Tecumseh said...

So who are they rooting for, except perhaps the hokey team?

Arelcao Akleos said...

Team Globally Warm MultiCult