It’s Veterans Day here in America, Armistice Day for fans of the British Empire. So as has become my tradition, I will post the text of one of only two poems that I can still recite from memory, In Flanders Field.
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.
Thank you, Belle, for remembering that today is not about sales and a day off and posting about it on your blog. It's a good reminder that not only is freedom not free, but that the price of freedom is often the blood of our young men and women. God bless all our brothers and sisters in arms who in harm's way on this Veterans Day – God speed them on a safe journey home.
Such a beautiful poem, and a lovely surprise to see on the blog today. That, Annabel Lee, and High Flight are the ones I know by heart.
Umm…and some Ogden Nash ;p