The Centenary of Remembrance

The Centenary of Remembrance The ranks of sunflowers follow the contours Of the vale, marching across to the ridge in The distance. Roots reach down into the Rich soil, feeding greedily on the memories Beneath. Yellow faces turn and follow the sun as it Arcs across the sky, warming the earth; Fat droning bees inspect the poppies that Hide beneath the tall stems, red and black Yet invisible. Dark clouds build across the blue sky shielding The sun; black shadows mute the bright colours, Misty rain begins to hide the regimented lines And the air becomes sombre, sounds deadened, The world lifeless. In the distance, faintly, as though in another Time, the sad notes of parting sound; and The misty image blurs into row on row, Simple crosses, remembrance of the fallen. And the black eyes of the poppies shed a tear.