Poppies

In Ferney's fields the poppies grow... : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Spring means newly ploughed fields means new crops means poppies. Along the edge of the field across the street from the apartment and on the edge of Switzerland are bright, red poppies. I love the paper-like quality and creping of the petals of these flowers. These poppies are the Papaver rhoeas variety and are considered to be a common weed in Europe, where they are also a symbol of Remembrance Day and are worn to commemorate the dead of World War I. They were immortalized in a poem by Canadian Lt. Col. John McRae titled, "In Flanders Fields."

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.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/10