Tuesday, November 10, 2009

CLV - The Poppies Blow

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This is a rondeau and takes the second half of the first line of
John McCrae's "In Flander's Fields", also a rondeau, as it's inspiratation.
The first line reads "In Flanders fields the poppies blow".


The Poppies Blow

The poppies blow upon the plain
Where countless died, in senseless pain.
They kissed their girls and left with pride;
Young hearts inflamed, by those who lied,
To head abroad and then remain -
One of the many pointless slain;
Youth of our nation, killed in vain.

In memory of those who died,
The poppies blow.

The poppies heard the old refrain,
The soldiers marching to the train,
Bright-eyed youth, a life denied.
Blood red, they dipped their heads and cried,
Knowing we'd do it all again,
The poppies blow.

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© J Cosmo Newbery
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10 comments:

  1. Very powerful stuff. Love the sad line: Bright-eyed youth, a life denied.

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  2. Has a Wilfred Owen feel to it.

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  3. really touching and beautiful!

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  4. "Youth of our nation, killed in vain." I think that every day when I open the newspaper.

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  5. I am always amazed by the number of works "In Flander's Fields" has inspired (not to mention organizations).

    A very worthy result from a timeless inspiration. Captures the mood and futility in a touching manner.

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  6. Sensitive and beautiful J Cosmo. ♡

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  7. Actually......I just like the picture.....

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  8. Powerful and sad Mr. Newberry.

    If only human beings weren't so brainless ...

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  9. Lee is right about Wilfred Owen and this poem. Haunting, ironic, sad sad loss is a rueful legacy of going to war, repeated in every age. Thank you for this well-penned reminder.

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