A Memorial Day poem: “In Flanders Fields”

SANNERVILLE, FRANCE - JUNE 05: Poppies blossom in the grass as 280 paratroopers take part in a parachute drop onto fields at Sannerville on June 05, 2019 at Sannerville, France. Veterans, families, visitors and military personnel are gathering in Normandy on June 6th to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landings which heralded the Allied advance towards Germany and victory in Europe 11 months later. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.

Courtesy of the Poetry Foundation

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.

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