Always And Forever

In Memory

This poem by Rupert Brookes always makes me think. I suppose that is what he wanted us to do.

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam;
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Phil

That is a lovely poem Phil.

Denise

I'm not a poetry person, but as I say that one is special.

Phil

This should be taught to every school child in the country, irrespective of nationality.

John

There is a lot of things that should be taught in schools that no longer gets even discussed. The only place my grandchildren ever hear about our two world wars is from their granddad and I'm ashamed to say that never having lived through it I only know what I was taught at school and what I have read.

I had today for reasons that are not important to pick my grandson up from School. In the school playground there were quite a few people mothers & fathers, Gran's & granddads waiting to pick up children. Being nosey I had a good look around, and I realised that out of the 40 or 50 adults that were waiting I was the only one wearing a poppy. Later while driving my grandson home (age 10) I asked him what if anything had been said today at school about what today was. He replied "nothing".

Phil

Phil
I know what you mean about the lack of Poppy's. I personally have gone poppyless today although I have bought several. Todays poppy's with the plastic stem have the clever habit of jumping off when no-one is looking. At least more money goes into the boxes, so I'll get some more tomorrow.

Yes
I've noticed with these stick on ones that they don't stop stuck for five minutes so you are continually buying (thats not the right word is it) you are continually donating for another one. Perhaps that's the whole idea. Still poppy day is one of the few days that I donate to tin rattlers quite freely.

Phil

Don't know many poems but the Rupert Brooke one seems perfect for remeberance day , I think you'r right about the poppys they only seem to stay on for a day or two but it's all for a good cause

Watched the rememberance programme tonight.So touching.

Yes I have gone through a few poppys too.

We will remember them.

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.