Poem for Veteran's Day
John O. Andersen
In May 1915, during the second battle at Ypres, Belgium, Major John McCrae,
a Canadian surgeon found himself in a horrifying situation. For some 17
days, he tended the hundreds of injured and dying men; the casualties of
trench warfare.
Never in his career had he witnessed so much pain and suffering. His
anquish on that battlefield gave him the inspiration to write a poem; a poem
which not only pays homage to those who died in that conflict, but perhaps
more importantly, admonishes the beneficiaries of their sacrifice, to never
forget; to live their lives in such a way that those who died will not have
died in vain.
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 with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
--Major John McCrae
May we all take some time this Veteran's Day to remember those who died, and
recommit ourselves to the cause of peace.
John Andersen
Uncoventional Ideas at http://www.unconventionalideas.com
a Canadian surgeon found himself in a horrifying situation. For some 17
days, he tended the hundreds of injured and dying men; the casualties of
trench warfare.
Never in his career had he witnessed so much pain and suffering. His
anquish on that battlefield gave him the inspiration to write a poem; a poem
which not only pays homage to those who died in that conflict, but perhaps
more importantly, admonishes the beneficiaries of their sacrifice, to never
forget; to live their lives in such a way that those who died will not have
died in vain.
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 with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
--Major John McCrae
May we all take some time this Veteran's Day to remember those who died, and
recommit ourselves to the cause of peace.
John Andersen
Uncoventional Ideas at http://www.unconventionalideas.com