A Poppy’s Whisper

A Poppy’s Whisper

A token to remember
The sacrifices great
Of those who laid their lives down
To call a halt to hate

A symbol of a loved one
A colleague, or a friend
Of endless tears; of broken hearts
That time can never mend

Of those who’ll never reach old age
Ne’er welcome a new dawn
For they kept their word of honour
An oath they each had sworn

A token to remember those
Who’ll never live to see
A family grow around them
Grandchildren on their knee;

Never read a bedtime story
To a child tucked up so snug;
Never hear ‘I love you’
Or savour one more hug

Afore a cold, bleak backdrop
Awash with hurt and pain
A flower grew, defiant
‘This shall not be in vain’

That flower stood, so tall, so straight
Where those who fell did lay
Now, each one whispers with a tear
‘Thank you for our today’