Why wear a poppy

billzhao

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“Please wear a poppy”, the old lady said
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,
Yet beneath the scars, the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.

. m$ k* a1 d$ aA boy came whistling down the street
1 O1 p: e( r% V1 d& `Bounding along on his carefree feet
3 U. e2 ]) e" q. N4 AHis smile was full of joy and fun
& u; K0 N; |/ h  v" g) b8 A' x “Lady” he said, “can I have one?
, u% q6 Z1 d9 h3 N: }* V2 o) L& tAs she pinned it on I heard him say
1 w2 W( j$ h& @. X' h' N' Y“Why do we wear the poppy today?”
+ e; }& a) M* `1 PThe lady smiled in her wistful way
2 b8 M8 T3 N% @3 A+ Q! ~And answered “this is remembrance day”

+ i" S# k% Y* F. ^6 |& w; d( e" u“The poppy is the symbol for the,
0 \; A4 x6 m% Z- \, b. uThe gallant men and women who died in the war”.
1 c- ~$ G3 X! m" n% I* n" N “And because they did we are free, that’s why we wear the poppy you see”

: H) z! e1 m) ~1 f2 Z3 O“I had a boy about your size, with golden hair and big blue eyes,
/ N1 p5 \5 ]. |3 GHe 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,
5 u9 u/ Z+ e5 t8 J" h4 Z6 H% Q3 l2 v3 LBut he seemed to be with us a such a short while
When the War broke out he went away
' Q6 m0 l9 h- |* `1 P/ oI can still remember his face that day
; s+ D  I, t/ O& Q$ M& Q2 pWhen he smiled at me and said goodbye
; h0 O+ d, f0 y2 L“I will be back soon, so please don’t cry”

But the War went on and he had to stay
) @5 |0 L: R3 {; eAll I could do was wait and pray
His letters told of an awful fight
I can see it still in my dreams at night
With the tanks and guns and the cruel barb wire
( \! f, G/ v7 ~+ T" o' pAnd the mines and bullets, the bombs and the fire
Until at last the War was won
And that is why we wear the poppy son
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& k6 t) }; k1 d. Q2 a- y9 H! J3 aThe small boy turned as if to go
* n5 k" v: {2 P, ^, ~7 T' SThen stopped and said “Thank you lady, I’m glad I know”
That sure did sound like an awful fight
% \0 K3 D% _; Y! Z8 M# \' T$ _# Y* { “But your son, did he come home all right”?
A tear rolled down each faded cheek, she shook her head
' _# K. S: x: }/ Y3 TBut didn’t speak.

I slunk away, head bowed in shame,
  m# ?. ]7 U; c9 TAnd if you were me, you’d have done the same,
5 q& F, }1 t6 n4 W! A  e) w5 BFor our thanks in giving is often delayed
' [3 U! U4 K. Z1 o6 b* o: {+ B- ?" [. LThough our freedom was bought by the legions who paid.
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+ x; v' ?0 w" t' Y; ?And so, when you see a poppy worn
$ P$ }% a0 f1 v' R* n# ~Let us reflect on the burden borne
, y3 X$ h' r/ l3 F3 w% D0 u* I, BBy 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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