"Why do we wear a poppy?"
I heard a child say.
"Why do we see so many,
when it comes Remembrance Day?"




I wanted to tell the child
the answers that I knew,
for the meaning of the poppy,
and the feelings for it too.




The poppy was a flower,
that grew in fields of war,
then over the graves of soldiers,
there grew more, and more, and more.




The sight of the blood-red flower,
touched the many hearts of those,
who knew, and loved, and cared about,
those who died fighting foes.




So they wore a poppy to remember,
to show thanks for all who gave -
they gave their lives, to make ours better,
but now they lay in the grave.




We want to remember them too,
give thanks for all they have done
so we, may live in freedom,
with PEACE for everyone.




"Why do we wear a poppy?"
The child now can say,
"The poppy joins all hearts together,
to beat strong for Remembrance Day".




*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

Written for Remembrance Day 1997
by

John McCrae

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