This poem was written by Major John McCrae on the 3rd of May 1915; born from the fire and blood of the First World War. McCrae, who was stationed in Ypres as a doctor wrote ‘In Flanders Fields’ after the death of his friend Lieutenant Helmer. As a doctor, he was confronted daily with the wounded and dying. With every new death he asked himself if this sacrifice made any sense. The horror and misery touched him deeply, urging him to put pen to paper. Writing poems was his way to deal with his feelings and experiences. This poem became a worldwide symbol for sacrifice and the battle for freedom, while the poppy that is mentioned in ‘In Flanders Fields’ is still the symbol for all the fallen. The contrast between the poppy, standing for life and peace, and the crosses, standing for death and war, remains very striking.
lyrics
In Flanders Fields
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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.
poem by John McCrae
credits
from The True Face Of Human Nature,
released December 1, 2006
Foundations: Jacobs, Van Dingenen, Damen
Arranged by Crimson Falls
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