The Poppy

 

 

     They fixed their gaze and shook

Each other’s hands in friendship,

Some – tight lipped smiled

While others cried,

     Each wore drops of blood

While a nation - new contests

The colour it should be

     And I for one,

Clenched tight my jaw

Against a backlash of resentment,

 

     They served their country

As did I and bared witness

To carnage not easy on the mind,

And though the modern world

Tries deny the sacrifice they gave,

     They only served in faith,

     They only served in faith.

 

     Blood is not white,

Blood is not black or green

Or yellow or blue when spilt,

     It is red,

Bright shining oozing flowing

     Pulsing RED,

RED the colour of tears

Worn on blazers and jackets,

RED the colour of bomb-blast victims

And those of Gun-shot,

     And though I’m loathed to admit

The disgrace man

Has placed upon his kind,

Let it stay RED,

Let it stay RED from Unknown Soldier –

Through to each and every decorated hero,

Let it stay RED the colour of ‘all our’ blood,

     Until the last post

Sounds the cessation

Of all we’ve shed,

     For the final victory,

Will only be awarded,

When nations have

The courage, to lay

Down once for all – their arms.

 

…..we are all one blood,

The soldier knows – lets everybody know,

To give up hope then 'it’s' done,

No end to this legality of murder?

At the going down of the sun.

 

 

Michael J Waite 11/11/2012.