As I post this, we are in the middle of Veterans’ Week. A year ago, we were in New Zealand, attending November 11 services in Auckland and listening in some surprise to In Flanders Fields. It had never occurred to me, at least, that this poem by McCrae was known in other countries, but it is so. This week, in this 100th anniversary year of the writing of In Flanders Fields, I offer photos of poppies.
A WWI war poet said in his poem, Aftermath, “Look up, and swear by the green of the spring that you’ll never forget.” Today, photos of poppies taken in Ottawa’s green spring.
Particularly like the second one — it is probably so brief a time in the making that most of us (well, me) never see it.
I so prefer poppies to tulips, esp. the common variety that Ottawa plants a million of each year. No nuance.
Barbara – Interesting how the transitions are more interesting. Don’t tell any teenagers I said that, though!
I won’t. They are self-absorbed enough.
Barbara – :>)
I noticed that our newly appointed Canadian Minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould, wore a poppy that was different from any I had previously seen. It had a unique central design. I wondered about the significance so did a bit of research and, as I suspected, it was a design by an aboriginal artist. It was quite striking and beautiful.
Tom – I hadn’t seen that. Good for her.