[11] In Flanders Fields
The first of our guest poems, sent in by Sameer Siruguri <siruguri@>
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.
-- John McCrae
|
I like the marching rhythm of this poem - short, insistent and conveying a
mixture of inspiration and command. The imagery of the poppies in the field
(esp. in the last stanza) is really beautiful, echoing the contrast between the
exhuberance of Nature and the solemnity of Death, which the soldiers on the
lush fields in Ypres must have felt very strongly. I suggested this poem about
a week ago and have since seen "Saving Private Ryan", and that has increased
the poignancy of it somewhat for me.
Excerpts from:
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/historical/firstwar/mccrae.htm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
"In Flanders Fields" was first published in England's "Punch" magazine in
December, 1915. Within months, this poem came to symbolize the sacrifices of
all who were fighting in the First World War.
[...]
In April 1915, John McCrae was in the trenches near Ypres, Belgium, in the area
traditionally called Flanders. Some of the heaviest fighting of the First World
War took place there during that was known as the Second Battle of Ypres
[considered a turning point for the Allies in WW1].
[...]
Before he died, John McCrae had the satisfaction of knowing that his poem had
been a success. Soon after its publication, it became the most popular poem on
the First World War. It was translated into many languages and used on
billboards advertising the sale of the first Victory Loan Bonds in Canada in
1917. Designed to raise $150,000,000, the campaign raised $400,000,000.
[...]
In part because of the poem's popularity, the poppy was adopted as the Flower
of Remembrance for the war dead of Britain, France, the United States, Canada
and other Commonwealth countries.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sam
From: Ravi Mundoli <rmundoli@>
Nice poem. I'm doing a course on World War I and have heard several
accounts of the battles at Flanders. The conditions were inhuman and
its a wonder anyone actually did any fighting. The middle stanza,
methinks, is very effective.
Kiddo
From: Martin DeMello <martindemello@>
Just came across this followup to McCrae's poem:
'Reply to In Flanders Fields'
Oh! Sleep in peace where poppies grow;
The torch your failing hands let go
Was caught by us, again held high,
A beacon light in Flanders sky
That dims the stars to those below,
You are our dead, you held the foe,
And ere the poppies cease to blow,
We'll prove our faith in you who lie
In Flanders Fields.
Oh! rest in peace, we quickly go
To you who bravely died, and know
In other fields was heard the cry,
For freedom's cause, of who you lie,
In Flanders Fields.
As in rumbling sound, to and fro,
The lightning flashes, sky aglow,
The mighty hosts appear, and high
Above the din of battle cry,
Scarce heard amidst the guns below,
Are fearless hearts who fight the foe,
And guard the place where poppies grow.
Oh! sleep in peace , all you who lie
In Flanders Fields.
And still the poppies gently blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
The larks, still bravely soaring high,
Are singing now their lullaby
To you who sleep where poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
-- John Mitchell
- m.
From: "Allen Rogers" <arogers@>
"LEST WE FORGET"
IN Flanders fields the poppies grow
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 lift it high.
If ye break faith with those who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies blow
In Flanders fields.
OH you who sleep in Flanders fields-
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw,
And holding high we kept the faith with
Those who died.
WE cherish too the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders fields.
AND now the torch and poppy red
We wear in honor of our dead
Fear naught that ye have died for naught
We've learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders fields.
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
BEN BEEKMAN
– Printed in a 1944 newspaper in Louisiana. The paper clipping, found in my
Aunt Rose's effects, contained a note at the bottom, "Just your little Sgt.
Rogers 1944". Given to her by her husband Murphy Rogers, my uncle, who was a
sergeant in the U. S, Army at that time, there is no date for the clipping
nor is there a newspaper name. On the back of the clipping is an
advertisement for a movie "In Old Oklahoma" that was made in 1943.
–
– What is odd about this version of the poem is that there are 6 stanzas
instead of the three in the original by L. C. John McCrea.
Allen John Rogers
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Website: http://www.dansereauhouse.com/
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From: PrincessGM13@
I love the poem In Flanders Field. We had to sing it in our Veteran''s Day
program at school for choir. Everyone thought it was so pretty. Even other
children and they're usually dreading listening to the choir sing. At first
nobody in the choir liked to sing it but then we grew to like it. Even the
boys and popular kids. Well, I have to go. Bye.
Gerri
From: "caracox" <caracox@>
From Cara Cox caracox@
A wonderful timeless poem. One to ponder and think. I remember
learning this at school as a student 50 years ago and taught to my
students as a teacher. It never fails to move me to tears, especially
when a few years ago I was privileged to tour the Western Front in
France and Belgium. Visiting Ieper and the Menin gate, the ghosts of
Will Longstaff's painting 'The Menin Gate at Midnight' seemed to reach
out and say "We are the dead, Short days ago we lived ..."This poem had
stood the test and has not failed to stir the hearts of people who
remember.
Cara Cox
From: tigger2@
I seem to remember another "Flanders Fields" "In Flanders Fields the
poppies bloom, and fit full flashes light the gloom-----" I read this in
school back in the 40's. Dose anyone remember it??
From: Martin DeMello <martindemello@>
My e-mail group have been discussing war for the past few days and Rhona
sent the above to us. I had not come across it before and having read
it I wanted to cry. I think it is a beautiful poem to remind us of the
terrible fuitility and senseless waste of war.
Leoni Burke
From: "student183" <greengatecdc1@>
These listings may help understand where other poetic responses to Major
John McCrae's "In Flanders..." fit in:
"IN FLANDERS FIELDS"
In Flanders field 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 with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
REPLY TO "IN FLANDERS FIELDS"
by John Mitchell
Oh! sleep in peace where poppies grow;
The torch your falling hands let go
Was caught by us, again held high,
A beacon light in Flanders sky
That dims the stars to those below.
You are our dead, you held the foe,
And ere the poppies cease to blow,
We'll prove our faith in you who lie
In Flanders Fields.
Oh! rest in peace, we quickly go
To you who bravely died, and know
In other fields was heard the cry,
For freedom's cause, of you who lie,
So still asleep where poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.
As in rumbling sound, to and fro,
The lightning flashes, sky aglow,
The mighty hosts appear, and high
Above the din of battle cry,
Scarces heard amidst the guns below,
Are fearless hearts who fight the foe,
And guard the place where poppies grow.
Oh! sleep in peace, all you who lie
In Flanders Fields.
And still the poppies gently blow,
Between the crosses, row by row.
The larks, still bravely soaring high,
Are singing now their lullaby
To you who sleep where poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
ANOTHER REPLY TO
"IN FLANDERS FIELDS"
by J.A. Armstrong
In Flanders Fields the cannons boom,
And fitful flashes light the gloom;
While up above, like eagles, fly
The fierce destroyers of the sky;
With stains the earth wherein you lie
Is redder than the poppy bloom,
In Flanders Fields.
Sleep on, ye brave! The shrieking shell,
The quaking trench, the startling yell,
The fury of the battle hell
Shall wake you not, for all is well;
Sleep peacefully, for all is well.
Your flaming torch aloft we bear,
With burning heart and oath we swear
To keep the faith, to fight it through,
To crush the foe, or sleep with you,
In Flanders Fields.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
AMERICA'S ANSWER
by R.W. Lilliard
Rest ye in peace, ye Flanders dead.
The fight that ye so bravely led
We've taken up. And we will keep
True faith with you who lie asleep
With each a cross to mark his bed,
In Flanders fields.
Fear not that ye have died for naught.
The torch ye threw to us we caught.
Ten million hands will hold it high,
And Freedom's light shall never die!
We've learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders fields.
from gf1@
From: cfburton <burton.carolyn@>
this poem is extraordinary...i have a friend who recently lost his son to a senseless act of violence....his son was a West Point graduate and fought in Kosovo....but was killed in a drive by shooting in the town where he was stationed....his father and grandmother love this poem and i was wondering where i could get two (2) copies of it so i may frame them and give them to both of them as a rememberence...if there is any way i can get the copies could you please let me know....i would appreciate it very much...thank you for finding this wonderful piece with the extra stansas...i await hearing from you.
carolyn burton
burton.carolyn@
From: "Jim Clark" <pilgrimjim@>
The poem, In Flanders Fields, is a beautiful and heartfelt observation.
Here is short piece of writing by Moina Michael and I believe it was
written in 1915.
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
Moina Michael 1915
Jim Clark http://home.comcast.net/~pilgrimjim
--
From: "Jim Clark" <pilgrimjim@>
In regards to my previous post about this beautiful poem, I wish to
correct the date that I submitted for Moina Michael's writing. Moina
penned the following poem after reading John McCrae's beautiful work.
We Shall Keep The Faith
By Moina Michael, November 1918
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Moina Michael, November 1918
Jim Clark http://home.comcast.net/~pilgrimjim
--
From: "Jim Clark" <pilgrimjim@>
Jim Clark http://faithmemories.com
--
From: "pukgi" <dronke_choco@>
Yeee everybody, it's a nice poem. With this poem you understand wath
happened in this war.
It makes me crying.
Smell you later!!!
From: "pukgi" <dronke_choco@>
The poem, In Flanders Fields, is a beautiful and heartfelt observation.
Here is short piece of writing.
Smell you later!!! Peace
From: "pukgi" <dronke_choco@>
pietjes
From: "Robrecht Eggermont" <robrechteggermont@>
I think it's a very beautiful poem... it expresses the cruelty and the
feelings of the soldiers who fought in that terrible war...I hope that
there won't be a third WW...that the cruelty and the grief of many
people may not fare with the passage of time...
Robrecht Eggermont
From: "Del \"Abe\" Jones" <abeabe@>
A National Moment of Remembrance
That poem about where "poppies blow"
And, "the crosses, row on row"
Still rings true, these ninety years
After written, still brings tears.
We still have Dead, "amid the guns"
And lose our young and our loved ones
Those who lived, "short days ago"
Who, "felt dawn, saw sunset glow".
In Flanders Fields, "the poppy red"
Still grow where the blood was bled
They, "Take up our quarrel with the foe"
And still die for Freedoms that we know.
They pass, "The torch" to, "hold it high"
And not, "break the faith with us who die"
For they, "shall not sleep, though poppies grow"
Beneath all those, "crosses, row on row"
In Flanders Fields.
Del "Abe" Jones
White Bluff, TN
4-25-2005
Many places and people lay claim to our Memorial Day but it is a time
for all Americans to come together to Honor our War Heroes from all
Wars. A three day weekend when we should all pause a moment and
remember them as decreed by the President in the year 2000.
http://www.usmemorialday.org/speeches/president/may0200.txt
Visit http://www.inflandersfields.be/default2.htm for Flanders Fields
Museum
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