In Flanders Field
by John McCrae
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.
This is not easy to condense, I love the poem, but the undertone of heroism at war is also a little revolting for me, so maybe I wanted to capture the sadness of unnecessary death.
on uniforms
when crimson poppies bloom –
yet a grave is filled
Linked to Carpe Diem
—
May 17, 2014
Björn Rudbergs writings 
“We shall not sleep, though poppies grow.” –
Beginning and ending entwined between two fullstops.
You captured the tragedy, and I liked your notes. British society is more militaristic than the Swedish, or perhaps Scandinavian one is, though perhaps the tone might resonate among some Finns.
Well we have not been in war for 200 years… Finland was actively participating in WW II… so I think the views are different…
Bjorn, Lovely memorial to the dead of WWI. —Susan
A really powerful condensation
Thank you 🙂
Having just been in Flanders Field and seen the Flanders Field Museum, your poem moves me greatly. The number of people who lost their lives was horrific. Sad that it did not turn out to be the ‘war to end all wars.’
Indeed.. it seems like we still find new reason for wars.
There is a depth that one can only reach through mourning.
Thank you for your kind words on my post for this prompt.
Powerful and indeed sad haiku, Björn! So many lives could have been avoided during WW1.
A wonderfully captured imagery in your haiku-distillation Björn… really this one touches me deep. Thank you for sharing.
so sad, war, your poem. that simple and so effective line, ‘yet a grave is filled’
You paint some dark colours here.. very sad and intense..
http://rameshsood.blogspot.in/2014/05/your-dreams-fulfilledcarpe-diem.html
RS:)