Thank you Shaun.............. We Will Remember Them.xx
|
Why Wear a Poppy
"Please wear a poppy," the lady said, And held one forth, but I shook my head. Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there, And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made There remained a smile that refused to fade. A boy came whistling down the street, Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun, "Lady," said he, "may I have one?" When she'd pinned it on, he turned to say; "Why do we wear a poppy today?"
The lady smiled in her wistful way And answered; "This is Remembrance Day. And the poppy there is a symbol for The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free - That's why we wear a poppy, you see. I had a boy about your size, With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout, Free as a bird, he would race about. As the years went by, he learned and grew, And became a man - as you will, too.
He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile, But he'd seemed with us such a little while When war broke out and he went away. I still remember his face that day.
When he smiled at me and said, 'Goodbye, I'll be back soon, Mum, please don't cry.' But the war went on and he had to stay, And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight (I can see it still in my dreams at night), With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire, And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
Till at last, at last, the war was won - And that's why we wear a poppy, son." The small boy turned as if to go, Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know. That sure did sound like an awful fight But your son - did he come back all right?" A tear rolled down each faded cheek; She shook her head, but didn't speak I slunk away in a sort of shame, And if you were me, you'd have done the same:
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed, Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid! And so, when we see a poppy worn, Let us reflect on the burden borne By those who gave their very all When asked to answer their country's call That we at home in peace might live. Then wear a poppy! Remember - and Give!
By Don Crawford.
|
Dear All
This poem was written on the wall of a cellar, by a person of the Jewish faith in the Cologne concentration camp during World War Two.
“I believe in the sun even when it is not shining And I believe in love, even when there’s no one there. And I believe in God, even when he is silent.
I believe through any trial, there is always a way But sometimes in this suffering and hopeless despair My heart cries for shelter, to know someone’s there But a voice rises within me, saying hold on my child, I’ll give you strength, I’ll give you hope. Just stay a little while.
I believe in the sun even when it is not shining And I believe in love even when there’s no one there But I believe in God even when he is silent I believe through any trial there is always a way.
May there someday be sunshine May there someday be happiness May there someday be love May there someday be peace….”
Sincere wishes Love Elizabeth, EOS xx
|