For All Soldiers of All Wars

[182 CEF]

I hope no one feels that I am beating this to death, however I feel this is the best poem of WW1.

It was written by Canadian Medical Officer John Macrae

In Flanders Fields

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.

[BRIAN TALMER]

It is a lovely poem.

There was a very moving poem quoted at the end of BBC1's coverage of the cenotaph today, written by a nine year old child entitled "Poppy"

[Clive Maier]

I find the first stanza very fine but the overall sentiment troubles me. We are told that the dead will not rest easy unless those that remain carry on with the killing. Although it was written in distress, it seems a strange view for a surgeon to take, particularly as McCrae apparently was never able to come to terms with the suffering he saw.

I can understand someone of that time and place seeing the war only in terms of victory for 'our side' but the final lines are so vengeful that I may admire the poem but I can't like it.

[garyem1]

I heard the poem by the the 9 year old today, and it was excellent. But John Macrae`s poem Has to be The Poem of the Great War.

gary

[BeppoSapone]

I find the first stanza very fine but the overall sentiment troubles me. We are told that the dead will not rest easy unless those that remain carry on with the killing. Although it was written in distress, it seems a strange view for a surgeon to take, particularly as McCrae apparently was never able to come to terms with the suffering he saw.

I can understand someone of that time and place seeing the war only in terms of victory for 'our side' but the final lines are so vengeful that I may admire the poem but I can't like it.

My sentiments exactly Clive. This is why I so like the poem "To an Unknown British Soldier" that I posted to the group.

I really liked the final two lines:

But let no hatred wake us from our peace,

We gave our lives that enmity might cease.

[Clive Maier]

... My sentiments exactly Clive. This is why I so like the poem "To an Unknown British Soldier" that I posted to the group. ...

Yes, I liked that poem very much. I am amazed it is all but unknown. I tried hard to find it but had no luck at all. I must admit I was looking for a Great War poem though!