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Whilst not taking anything away from the Ode, which is a beautiful commemorative poem, another poem relating to WW1 is 'Flander's Fields', by Canadian Lt. Col. John McRae... For some reason, this one in particular really moves me.. While not exactly ANZAC, the author was serving as a field surgeon when one of his close friends was killed. The author wrote the poem to honour him, but threw it away unsatisfied about the quality of his words. An officer found the paper and was so moved he sent it home to Britain, where it was eventually printed in the newspaper
"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."
My sincere thanks to those who have fallen, and to those who still contue to serve, your sacrifice has made this country what it is.
Lest We Forget
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