Red Poppies All Around

As I look around me, I realise that without the sacrifices made by the many soldiers, sailors, pilots and aircrew during last centuries world wars, that life as we now know it would probably not exist. The freedom, hopes, tears, smiles and love that we have all experienced in our lifetimes were won by the bravery of the armed forces during that difficult turbulent time in our history, when they sacrificed their future, for our tomorrow.

Red Poppies All Around 

The wide sky for a blanket, the earth their final bed,
A star for every soldier lost, shining overhead.
They went to war so bravely, farewells upon their lips,
To fight for peace and justice, they sailed away in ships.

The call to arms was urgent, all their mates were going too,
The posters pasted everywhere, proclaimed..your country now needs you.
Leaving home and family, must have been a heartfelt wrench,
Exchanging all they knew and loved, for a cold wet foreign trench.

And so a nations generation, went off to fight a war,
Proud that they were going, and of the uniform they wore.
All convinced they would return, to the life they left behind,
So many hearts were broken, and for many, fate..not kind.

The shrill note of a whistle, explosions in the sky,
Running through the barbed wire, with bullets zipping by.
Letters in their pocket, that they hoped would not be read,
A mouth as dry as sawdust, shells screaming overhead.

Such a waste of precious life, the price paid to win a war,
Millions of brave soldiers, queuing up at heavens door.
How many fallen heroes, were lost without a trace,
Young men who’d never feel the warmth, of next years sun, upon their face.

They went to fight in foreign fields, left their futures in the ground,
As years pass by, they rest in peace, red poppies..all around.
Two world wars have left their mark and with the coming of November,
Never forget their sacrifice, and never ever forget to…Remember to Remember.

© Martin Silvester 2/11/2017