Friday, May 8, 2009

In Flanders Fields

Today we read a book called "In Flanders Fields - the Story of the Poem" by John McCrae.

At school time, we often read random poems from old books of poetry and recently read "In Flanders Fields". Then about a week ago I came across the above mentioned book.

It's not Veteran's Day (or Remembrance Day as it's referred to in Canada) - but I really love this poem so I'm including it here today. I remember sitting in grade school classrooms and having the poem read around Remembrance Day. Someone would come to our classroom with a canister that was passed around and we could drop in a donation and then get a little plastic poppy to wear on our shirt.

You can hear a choral rendition of the poem here on YouTube.

If I remember correctly, my mom had a great-uncle (?) that died fighting in France. She still has his pocket watch that he had on him when he died (a watch that was given to him by his employer before the war)...the watch stopped (supposedly) at the time of his death. Anyway I'm sure my mom will post a comment here to correct any details :)

In Flanders Fields

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.

1 comments:

CanadianGrandma said...

You were correct except there were three great-uncles who died in the Great War (WW1). I found out that one of them had joined the US Army and died in France.In Flanders Fields has a special meaning to me.