
by John McCrae, May 1915
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.

Inspiration for “In Flanders Fields”
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During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2nd May, 1915 in the gun positions near Ypres. He was a friend of commander Major John McCrae .
John McCrae was a field Dr in the same unit as his friend Alexis. For some reason the Chaplin was called away and so John was asked to take the funeral service for his friend. It is thought that in the evening after the funeral he wrote his most famous poem. In Flanders field.
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The Poem is so sad, it speaks of how so many young men died, cruel and painful deaths on the muddy fields and squalid trenches of Ypres. He talks about the larks bravely singing, as I see it he is alluding to the fact that life just goes on as this evil war raged. “The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.”
They died so quickly without warning, though better that than maimed and dying slowly in agony. They were young, they had lovers, family and then they were gone so suddenly. I think they hung around for a while as ghosts trying to adjust to death.
The dead, he tells us, implore those who follow them to take up the torch and fight the enemy to the end. For if they loose or shirk the challenge the dead will never rest and forever haunt the poppy fields of Flanders.
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Just a thought crosses my mind. What would those dead men buried under Flanders field made of the tanks and foot soldiers of the 2nd world war. The young men of the 1st world war thought they were fighting the war to end all wars…………. Sadly they were so wrong.
Nov 13, 2016 @ 09:14:11
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Nov 13, 2016 @ 09:16:13
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Nov 13, 2016 @ 09:17:00
Reblogged this on Grumpy old fart!!!.
Nov 13, 2016 @ 09:45:22
This poem always reduces me to tears,today of all days we must remember with the world as it is we must remember! Thank you for the reblog!
Nov 13, 2016 @ 10:32:28
I liked the poem by Kipping about his son Jack and the film, very emotional and written by someone who understands the desperation of needing to know what happened to him.
Nov 13, 2016 @ 10:42:35
Yes so true. I must look that up again .
Nov 13, 2016 @ 12:30:58
Nov 13, 2016 @ 12:40:47
Thanks that’s brilliant!
Nov 13, 2016 @ 13:52:20
You’re welcome
Nov 13, 2016 @ 16:17:11
😊
Nov 13, 2016 @ 10:33:27
Unfortunately there will always be a dark side that will need to be fought.
Nov 13, 2016 @ 10:47:55
Yes sadly that will never be got rid of but we must never give up!
Nov 13, 2016 @ 17:49:24
That is such a beautiful, poignant poem. xx
Nov 13, 2016 @ 18:45:37
It is definitely one of my favorites so heartfelt!
Nov 13, 2016 @ 18:20:35
These are the most haunting words I will ever read. Thank you for posting them for Remembrance Day. ❤ ❤ ❤
Nov 13, 2016 @ 18:48:20
Yes such a great poem!
Nov 14, 2016 @ 07:44:45
Thank you for this post, I hope one day everyone can rub along together and the need for wars is pushed into history.
Nov 14, 2016 @ 08:22:39
That is a Bible thought which I share with you. I honestly believe the majority of us could live like that but the the evil ones, the men and women with power and money and ambition to rules out power us. Thank you for reading. x
Nov 15, 2016 @ 04:24:12
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