April 25, 2012

A Poem for Remembrance Day

"The inquisitive mind of a child"

poppyWhy are they selling poppies, Mummy?
Selling poppies in town today.
The poppies, child, are flowers of love.
For the men who marched away.

But why have they chosen a poppy, Mummy?
Why not a beautiful rose?
Because my child, men fought and died
In the fields where the poppies grow.

But why are the poppies so red, Mummy?
Why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood, my child.
The blood that our soldiers shed.

poppyThe heart of the poppy is black, Mummy.
Why does it have to be black?
Black, my child, is the symbol of grief.
For the men who never came back.

But why, Mummy are you crying so?
Your tears are giving you pain.
My tears are my fears for you my child.
For the world is forgetting again.

Author - Mary Link nee Gilbert


Updated 11/11/2012 - I received the following message today and have changed the "Author Unknown" tag for this poem to Mary Link nee Gilbert

The Message from her Grandchild (name ungiven) reads
"My grandmother Mary Link nee Gilbert is the author of this but sadly we cannot authenticate. She was born Ashford Kent England 1891 and wrote this to answer her sons inquisitive mind. My mother taught this to all of us as children, like I have mine and my grandchildren. A truly remarkable and honest observation. And sadly the world is forgetting again"

6 comments:

  1. Fitting. Thanks for sharing this Pax.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great poem, Pax. And tell any vets you see that an ole Georgia boy said Thanks and God Bless.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well said, and a toast was said in y'alls honor...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very touching: Because my child, men fought and died
    In the fields where the poppies grow. . .

    ReplyDelete
  5. My grandmother Mary Link nee Gilbert is the author of this but sadly we cannot authenticate. She was born Ashford Kent England 1891 and wrote this to answer her sons inquisitive mind. My mother taught this to all of us as children, like I have mine and my grandchildren. A truly remarkable and honest observation. And sadly the world is forgetting again .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for clarifying the Author of this lovely poem. I have updated the information and included your message in the main post.

      Lest we forget!

      Pax

      Delete