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A Poppy In Winter

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A Poppy In Winter

 

November mists come down in shrouds of grey

and folk remember, with their poppies red,

the loss of sixteen million war dead

and how the guns fell silent on this day.

So who are you to deem to have a say

on whether I should honour those who bled

by crimson colours? – or perhaps, instead,

in remembrance there is another way.

For I would guess that most of those who died,

If they could choose, would say it was their right

to be remembered with respected pride

and that their children wouldn’t have to fight.

“Everlasting Peace!” they may well have cried,

“and if you must wear poppies – wear them white”.

🌷(4)

petrarchan sonnetwhite poppyremembrancepeacealternative

◄ That Which Autumn Leaves (REPOST with Audio)

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Comments

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Ian Whiteley

Thu 15th Nov 2018 13:52

Thanks for all the comments - interesting reading :-)
Ian

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Taylor Crowshaw

Wed 7th Nov 2018 15:38

Wonderful poem..freedom of choice every time...

Big Sal

Wed 7th Nov 2018 00:59

Your skill in writing different types of pieces never ceases to amaze.

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 6th Nov 2018 19:40

Agree with BM's first line. Freedom takes its chosen path.
As for the rest - maybe, if white poppies had been seen to
"grow in Flanders Fields" - for that is the power of the red
poppy: for then and there, not just a blood-coloured token.
Peace is never argued against but when tyranny steps out it
needs more than fine words or emblems to confront and defeat it. That is the tragedy of all warfare. Pacifism is
only possible when it is won by force of arms against tyrants. Gandhi's version succeeded because his British
opponents fell far short of that definition. It would not have
succeeded against others in recent history.

<Deleted User> (18980)

Tue 6th Nov 2018 19:19

A very good poem Ian.

The white poppy has come to prominence in recent times yet has been around in a small way for around 80-90 years. I have no problem with people remembering in their own way...I would not however like to see the dignity of the occasion diminished with more outlandish versions of the poppy.

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