Red Poppies of Flanders

Red Poppies of Flanders

Digging trenches 
Dawn to dusk
Forcing shovels 
In the dust...

Weather's freezing 
Clothes to skin
While it's raining,
Yet, again...

Rank and muddy 
Head to toe
Slip and sliding 
As we go...

The blinding lights
The deaf'ning sounds
The endless nights 
In muddy grounds...

Trenches flooding 
Through the ranks
Muddy waters
Breach the banks...

Wounds ooze bleeding 
Muddy mix
Smell the Reaper
Reaching Styx...

Men and horses
Side by side
Some lay wounded 
Others died...

Still we hold to
Fleeting hope
Among the shells
And stinking smoke...

Through fields of mud
And charred stick trees
Where nothing grows 
Deep stained in blood...

But the poppy
Bright blood red
From these grounds
Of the dead...
These battle-scared
Fields' true price
Remembers All
Who sacrificed. 

deborah burch©07.21.17
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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Gondolf Avatar
November 21, 2017 at 1:30 PM
Wonderful tribute, Deb, we must never forget our true heros. John
Burch Avatar
November 21, 2017 at 1:56 PM
Thank you so very much, John. Indeed...none should ever be forgotten or disrespected. Thank you for your service...deb
Allison Avatar
November 18, 2017 at 4:30 AM
What a touching tribute, we must always remember them Debs:-) hugs jan xx
Burch Avatar
November 18, 2017 at 5:37 AM
Thank you Jan!! :) Bih Hugggs!! Deb
Vaso Avatar
November 18, 2017 at 3:02 AM
This is a wonderful tribute, I loved this poem and is a fav for me!!
Burch Avatar
November 18, 2017 at 3:36 AM
My dear Art!! Thank you so much! I am glad you were touch!! :) hugs deb
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