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Armistice Day At the eleventh

November 11th, 2002 · No Comments

Armistice Day
At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918,
an Armistice was signed, ending what had been the bloodiest war ever
fought. I’ve never paid much attention to World War I (or the Great
War, as it was then called– the people having no knowledge that
another such war was possible) before. The United States entered the
battle quite late, and no one in my family fought in it– we’ve always
been rather focused on World War II, with both my grandfathers serving.
I think that as a whole, the US has rather forgotten about WWI. Anyway,
I’ve been taking a Literature of the Great War class, which has given
me a new appreciation for what the people at the time went through. I
thought it would be appropriate to post some of the more memorable
poems I’ve read throughout the day today. The first is perhaps one of
the most famous WWI poems– the reason poppies are worn in remembrance
of soliders in any war. It’s view of the war is slightly idealized–
much more than what I will be posting later on.
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae (1872-1918)

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Tags: Virtual Parchment

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