November Stop Think Remember
So much to do, so little time...............it seems to be the way the world is these days.People today seem to have so little time for anything, the pace of life can be frantic.
How many people will remember to take time on the 11th hour of , 11th day of, the 11th month, to remember the gallant men and women who died in the war (and still continue to) so that you and I are free.
On Sunday, our family will attend a Remembrance Day Service in Selby Abbey along with our young son, who will march through the town with his Scout Group to Selby Abbey.
Remembering this poignant day, brought to mind two beautiful and moving poems which I would like to share with you. ( The first one was printed in our local paper-unknown author)
REMEMBER
Who will remember ,asked the poppy, as it looked around,
At all the dead and dying men covering the ground.
Who will remember,asked the poppy, as a battle raged again,
A mixture of sounds was heard especially the screams of pain.
Who will remember, asked the poppy, the unimaginable they went through,
The fear, pain and suffering and they did it all for you.
Who will remember, asked the poppy, the mothers, fiancees, sisters and wives,
Left to mourn their menfolk who bravely gave up their lives.
I will remember, said the poppy, as it slowly lowered its head,
Its face the colour of the blood that had spilled from thousands dead.
And you will remember, said the poppy, a solitary sad flower,
When you wear me with pride on the 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour.
PLEASE WEAR A POPPY
"Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned in on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man - as you will, too.
"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.
"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
"Till at last, at last, the war was won -
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?"
A tear rolled down each faded check;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!
By Don Crawford
I hope you enjoyed these poems and I am sure, like me, they brought a tear to your eye.
Mark & Mary Huby
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