Why wear a poppy

billzhao

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“Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
; `6 _5 |1 q5 n- S% g And held one forth, but I shook my head
) {3 o( `8 K2 l/ MThen I stopped and watched, to see how shed fare
Her face was old, and lined with care,
. m, x/ l1 m: O$ ]- g+ `/ vYet beneath the scars, the years had made
  z8 D3 e5 @; ZThere remained a smile that refused to fade.
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A boy came whistling down the street
Bounding along on his carefree feet
- A# A0 ~& Y0 I0 t% H7 S8 w5 ^  a; P0 WHis smile was full of joy and fun
“Lady” he said, “can I have one?
9 l; X: P' Y1 q7 e( aAs she pinned it on I heard him say
# v* m3 c' c0 @( K“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered “this is remembrance day”

“The poppy is the symbol for the,
$ `$ x& ]; a# O) T' o' Y9 i* o: K- [The 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,
, L) C/ a# n* @8 v- J" THe 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
, h6 K' o6 Z, u5 lWhen the War broke out he went away
I 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”

But the War went on and he had to stay
All I could do was wait and pray
; X/ F! {5 K  E/ l0 AHis letters told of an awful fight
6 f* y. t. v# p3 y. a9 NI can see it still in my dreams at night
4 u  w8 v" p7 O' K6 `+ F& B. v8 IWith the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
( k- g8 M+ R) X$ fAnd the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire
Until at last the War was won
! O9 Y9 w# d+ R- i+ `; d. SAnd that is why we wear the poppy son
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The small boy turned as if to go
& Z, k% Q, ]3 G# ZThen stopped and said “Thank you lady, I’m glad I know”
That sure did sound like an awful fight
“But your son, did he come home all right”?
* k# J* O2 A  fA tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
But didn’t speak.
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I slunk away, head bowed in shame,
+ |7 p  }( L8 q0 N: I! _And if you were me, you’d have done the same,
. ^& o  M" s  M) z) NFor our thanks in giving is often delayed
Though our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.
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* j8 x& T3 t1 d+ JAnd so, when you see a poppy worn
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their precious all
When asked to answer their countries call
That we at home, in peace may live
Then wear a poppy, remember, and give.

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