Constance La France Poet Narrative

Notes About The Poem

Where Poppies Grow

 
"We are the dead. Short days ago
We loved, felt dawn and saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved ...."

          By _ Lt. Col. John McCrae (In Flanders Field) 1915
________________

Let me tell you a story . . . 

I recall a little boy who played in the sandbox
and drove me crazy most of the time
I had to chase him everywhere 
but he had a dream to be a soldier
a Canadian Peace Keeper
we, the family were proud but frightened also
Dad would say, he is a peacekeeper so he will be okay
anyone who tells you peacekeepers do not die
is lying because they do ...
my little brother came home in a box
like so many he fought in a battle far, far from home
I visit his grave often 
passing the rows and rows of white stone military markers
my great grandpa fought in WWI
I have a photograph of him in uniform
my grandpa fought in WW2 
he never spoke of what he saw
grandma said he came back a changed man
I think a lot about all the men and women who go to war 
who have given their lives for peace
wish I could go to Flanders Field Cemetery
and see the 12,000 crosses row after row 
is war to be part of this life forever
for, it seems there is always a war somewhere
I read somewhere that
the poppies are dying in Flanders Field

_____________________
November 13, 2021


Poetry/Narrative/Where Poppies Grow
Copyright Protected, ID 11-1606-322-13
All Rights Reserved, 2021, Constance La France


Written for the Premier contest, War
sponsor,  Kai Michael Neumann, Judged 12/22/2021

Seventh Place

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Bj Legros Kelley April 25, 2022 at 1:27 PM Oh Constance, thank you for inviting me to read this emotional poem. My heart hurts for the loss of your precious little brother. My dad fought in WWII, he didn't talk much about it but to say, those soldiers on the other side had families waiting, girlfriends, wives too, and that war is horrific and terrible, it is kill or be killed, but even survival from being in a war will wound a heart forever. God bless you Constance. May your precious brother rest in peace. <3 ~BJ Constance La France April 25, 2022 at 1:33 PM BJ, thank you so much for visiting this emotional poem of mine, many soldiers cannot speak of what they saw/ee, images the haunt forever, how can they not ~blessings and love _Constance

Reason A. Poteet April 21, 2022 at 5:55 AM Beautiful narrative (among your dozens) to emphasize the sacrifice of so many who died fighting for their country's honor. Well structured piece moving throughout your family and ending with a novel thought - the death of the poppies in Flanders Field. Perhaps the blue cornflowers will take over their task of decoration. They come up at random sometimes in the fields around here in the US. Constance La France April 21, 2022 at 8:39 AM Reason, thank you for coming to read my poem and thanks for the compliment and comment ~Constance

Joanna Daniel April 14, 2022 at 10:17 PM A deeply touching tale of war and your brother, Constance:) moving:) Constance La France April 15, 2022 at 8:21 AM Jo, thank you so much for the visit to my example poem and compliment, I am sure your poem for my contest will be wonderful ~ Constance

Regina Mcintosh April 14, 2022 at 9:24 PM Beautiful example. I love it. God bless you. Love, Gina Constance La France April 15, 2022 at 8:21 AM Gina, thank you so much for the compliment, I am sure your poem for my contest will be beautiful too, blessing ~Constance

Beata Agustin December 22, 2021 at 6:55 PM Congrats! Thanks for sharing this---and yes, for courageously exposing war's grim reality' in your awesome poetic way. God bless you. Constance La France December 23, 2021 at 9:50 AM Beata, thanks for the congrats and the comment and compliment, blessing ~ love and serenity _Constance

Christuraj Alex December 22, 2021 at 8:53 AM Great discussion on the theme of war together with examples of true incidents. Great writing. Congratulations! Constance La France December 22, 2021 at 1:17 PM Christuraj, thanks for the comment, compliment and congratulations ~ peace and tranquility _Constance

Paghunda Zahid December 22, 2021 at 5:30 AM I'm glad to see this on 7th position in the Premier contest. Congratulations Constance La France December 22, 2021 at 1:18 PM Paghunda, thank you for the comment and congratulations ~ friendship and poetry _Constance

Joe Maverick November 14, 2021 at 11:56 PM Very emotive and mentally visual Constance There will be earthquakes famine war and rumor Of war' before the end.) I think the rumours of War could be those we hear on crime plastic waste Drug enforcement on a virus anti social behaviour etc? Its A vouge word now.' The ww1 men were told there Would be no more war, I think we have to be More aware of what is said.. to then what becomes.' Constance La France November 15, 2021 at 7:29 AM Joe, thank you for the visit and compliment, no more war ? I doubt I will ever see that in my lifetime ~ peace and tranquility _Constance

Rico Leffanta November 14, 2021 at 10:59 AM When I was a small boy, my grandmother would clap her hands and sing, "When Johnny comes marching home again" when she saw me. One day I asked her why I had to go off to war and she said, "Because that is what boys do, and when you come home, you will be a MAN!" I do hope mankind finds a better use for life! Constance La France November 14, 2021 at 2:09 PM Rico, I find that so sad, that to be a man you have to fight in a war, sometimes boys (and women) and both sides not even knowing what they were fighting for. Thanks for the visit and the comment ~peace and tranquility _Constance