Poppies


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q56BJGUUL5A

A short video of the sea of poppies that covered the famous moat around the Tower of London. Each one represents the life of a soldier killed in the two World Wars from Britain and her Commonwealth. I think when you look at this short video you cannot fail to see the terrible cost of war.

The ceramic poppies were placed on sale when they are removed and every single one was sold. The money raised is for the injured veterans and the families who have lost their loved ones.

The event is in commemoration of the centenary of the start of WW1 which for Britain was August 4th 1914.

As an amateur poet below is my effort in remembrance.

Remembrance


Quiet now
Night wind gentle on the killing grounds
Silent now
The guns have lost their appetite
~
Leftover life lingers in the yellowed earth
Pinned on a wire nest
The half-faced man embraces death as a lover
and the rats go about their business
~
Old men refill their glasses
Bend over their maps
Move the little flags forward
For the morning
~
The woman looks down at the child
Fingers the unopened telegram
The cross carvers are on overtime
So Mary will have her new dress.

I always admired England and her people. Thanks for the post. I grew up during the 2nd WW and parents were scared. Like -what if Germany bombs the Schoelkopf hydro electrical works or Buffalo? We lived near Niagara Falls, NY and what if Japan wins? what's to happen to us? The scare sluffed off on us children. And now all those poppies --each one helped save us and our way of life.

Thank you Cari.

Such a beautiful tribute. Really brings home the enormity of the sacrifice.

Cari