Monday, May 30, 2011


In Flander's Field by John McCrae

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.


"In Flander's Field" is a memorable poem that was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in a cemetery in the Flanders region of Belgium on May 3, 1915, the day after the death of his young friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer.

Perhaps the most famous poem written during World War I, these simple but powerful fifteen lines, and the poppies they immortalize, have come to symbolize fallen soldiers. Learn more. I thought this was a perfect remembrance for Memorial Day.

Image: Painting by Willy Werner

5 comments:

J.W. said...

Thank you. This is a perfect rememberance for the holiday.

Laura Jannika said...

Thanks for sharing..I have always loved this poem...and my dogs name is Poppy.

poweroftheflower.blogspot.com said...

Thanks for sharing... I love this poem.

Millie said...

So many Aussie & Kiwi boys lost their lives in the muddy fields of France & Belgium in WW1. We were still a young country, so it was almost an entire generation of our young men wiped out. MOTH had 2 beloved elderly Aunts who both lost beaus in that theatre of war & remained spinsters until their deaths in their 80's. A most moving post dear Rosemary.
Millie x

Anonymous said...

When I was a school child in Canada, this poem was read every Remembrance Day - Nov 11. Exactly at 11 a.m., we all stood for a minute of silence to honour the fallen. There were always poppies to buy for 1 or 2 cents to wear on your coat.