WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

All registered Forum users can post bush poetry dedicated to all those who served
Post Reply
mummsie
Posts: 1062
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:33 am
Location: Tumut, NSW

WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

Post by mummsie » Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:36 am

WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE
SUE PEARCE (c) 2014

"Would you like to buy a poppy?” came the kindly, gentle voice
of an old Australian Digger, who then offered me a choice
from a tray of pins and badges held by tendered, gentle hands
as I wondered of our soldiers buried deep on foreign lands.

So I asked the old time digger, who seemed taken by surprise
for he stopped a while..then pondered.. and as moisture filled his eyes
he recalled the loss and bloodshed on the battle fields of France
in a Province known as Flanders, where the red corn poppies dance.

He recalled our gallant heroes as they gathered by the quay
cherished loved ones thoughts embedded as they boarded ships to sea
far away across the ocean to a land on foreign shores
where they joined the bloody battle in a war to end all wars.

Men for weeks instilled in trenches where the air was filled with dread
men who fought the battle bravely, there beside the dying, dead.
men we welcomed home as heroes from that wretched battle ground
men who told of fallen comrades, many who remain...unfound.

He recalled a mother’s heartache when a telegram arrived
and a faith that ceased on hearing that her only son had died
and his grave among the thousands represented by a cross
row on row they stand, reminders of the carnage and the loss.

Then his thoughts turned to the poppy and the symbolism there
and I felt the pride and mate-ship of a soldier left to bear
as he gestured to the emblem that he wore in his lapel
a symbol of the fallen and a league named RSL

As the big hand strikes eleven on a mild November day
I'm reminded of the digger and the words he had to say
and my mind begins to wander to a field in Southern France
to a Province known as Flanders, where the red corn poppies dance.
Last edited by mummsie on Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:22 am, edited 2 times in total.
the door is always open, the kettles always on, my shoulders here to cry on, i'll not judge who's right or wrong.

User avatar
Glenny Palmer
Posts: 1816
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:47 am

Re: WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

Post by Glenny Palmer » Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:04 am

Beautiful, Sue. xx
The purpose of my life is to serve as a warning to others.

william williams

Re: WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

Post by william williams » Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:18 am

very very nice Sue

bill the old battler

User avatar
Mal McLean
Posts: 521
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:40 pm
Location: North Lakes

Re: WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

Post by Mal McLean » Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:45 am

Beautiful Sue

Mal
Preserve the Culture!

mummsie
Posts: 1062
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:33 am
Location: Tumut, NSW

Re: WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

Post by mummsie » Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:34 pm

Thank you Glenny, Bill and Mal. I haven't posted anything for ages and I thought I would share his one.
Its a subject I've shied away from as its a sensitive one and I wasn't sure I could do it justice. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Cheers
Sue
the door is always open, the kettles always on, my shoulders here to cry on, i'll not judge who's right or wrong.

User avatar
Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

Re: WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:07 pm

You did good - nicely worded Sue
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

User avatar
Bob Pacey
Moderator
Posts: 7479
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2010 9:18 am
Location: Yeppoon

Re: WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

Post by Bob Pacey » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:32 pm

Remember when you posted your first poem Sue .


You were so hesitant about how it would be received and happy about the advice given

Well a lot of water under the bridge and a lot of new friends who really appreciate your talent.


Really enjoyed that beautifully written and would go very well as a performance piece I can just see this performed by the glowing campfire.

Cheers Bob
The purpose in life is to have fun.
After you grasp that everything else seems insignificant !!!

mummsie
Posts: 1062
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:33 am
Location: Tumut, NSW

Re: WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

Post by mummsie » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:39 pm

Thank you Maureen & Bob
I will never forget my first post Bob, one of the best things I ever did. Who knows, I probably would never have continued to write and learning how to perform was an added bonus thanks to this mob.
I have made many wonderful friends through Bush Poetry and will always be grateful to this big family.
Thank you all for your positive feedback.
Cheers
Sue
the door is always open, the kettles always on, my shoulders here to cry on, i'll not judge who's right or wrong.

Terry
Posts: 3287
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:53 pm

Re: WHERE THE RED CORN POPPIES DANCE

Post by Terry » Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:41 am

Yes beautifully written Sue.

Terry

Post Reply