Monday 7 November 2011

Magpie Tales 90

    
DANCING POPPY
Too young to know how many men were sho 
Or what the actual word “war” really meant;
  She had no notion of the soldier’s lot,
  How many sea and airmen’s lives were spent
In blood and flames and drowning sailors’ cries;
She only saw the poppies passing by,
And wanted one herself to wear, and prize;
She knew nothing of what it was to die;
So, on that morning into church she skipped,
And cracked the solemn silence with her smile,
And for a time, the mask of sorrow slipped,
As she danced with her poppy down the aisle.
She did not know how many people died,
Yet wore her poppy with a smile, and pride.
7.11.11

12 comments:

Brian Miller said...

a haroowing tale of rememberance and innocense as well in the not knowing...

Patsy said...

Many of those who fought and died did so in order for children to be able to smile and dance and not need to understand what war really means, so this seems very apt.

(Pssst, missing 't' on the first line)

Isabel Doyle said...

lovely view of the new poppy wearer - no doubt she will learn the sad stories too

Intelliblog said...

Very sensitively written piece, good take on this prompt.

Rosamund Browne said...

Thanks so much, Brian, and Patsy,(Yes I spotted the missing T too late,)Isabel and Nicholas. I think my children were lucky. Their father fought in world war 11
I was born a year after it ended

Jinksy said...

cracked the solemn silence with her smile, and for a time, the mask of sorrow slipped

Lovely view of the best part of innocence.♥

Tess Kincaid said...

Beautiful. I still have my red paper poppy from my trip to the UK in November 1989.

Christine said...

Meanings get lost so quickly. Thankyou.

Anonymous said...

Lovely write...

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Lovely write indeed and so much so illustrates the (welcome) innocence of the young. Thank you for a fine write,

Anna :o]

Rosamund Browne said...

Thank you so much everyone. I feel very flattered

Jingle Poetry At Olive Garden said...

creative and beautiful.

welcome sharing a random or relevant poetry with us today.

:)