Oh, Donna, this takes my breath away. Britain and Germany lost an entire generation of men. When I read Barbara Pym and Miss Read, there are always quite a few 'spinsters' — another effect of the Great War.
It is good to remember those that went before.
This will color (dye) my day today and that is a good thing. Powerful poppies.
So beautiful. I could hear my Dad's voice in my head, reciting the poem he learned in school, "In Flanders Fields, the poppies grow, amid the crosses, row on row..." He knew it all, that's all I can remember.
Sandy C., that poem is immediately what I thought of too and began reciting the lines in my head. What a moving tribute to those who gave their lives. Thank you, Donna.
Wow. The intersection of war and beauty is powerful. Thanks for sharing, Donna. It is too easy to forget; I am glad there are artists and dreamers who help us remember.
Donna, you always share the best things here, thank you! My great uncle was one of the 204,002 wounded U.S. servicemen from WWI. I got to meet him when I was a small child, just before he died from complication derived from mustard gas he encountered during the war. One more tidbit, a WWI soldier from our town sent his mother poppy seeds from Flanders Field and she planted them. The seeds blew from yard to yard or were shared and now our town is known as the Poppy Capitol of Texas and we have a Poppy Festival every spring. love and prayers, jep
Jep, this reminds me of Miss Rumphius, the children's book. She intentionally planted her lupines, but your poppies are a gift spread by the hand of God. How cool is that?
Oh Jep, That is so wonderful...the poppy capitol... I think Prince Charles would like to know that! He needs to come for a visit. I am not kidding. Beautiful.
Donna, Thank you for sharing this. I agree with Di, war and beauty and loss...I've read many of the Maisie Dobbs mystery series and have learned about World War I through them. I love the image of Jep's town filled with poppies. Jep, are they red?
They are red poppies and some years we have more than others. The Chamber of Commerce has poppy seeds for sale and we have tried and tried to get them to grow in our garden without success. Then last year we had one poppy that came up not in a place we planted seeds...truly a blessing from the wind and God's hand.
I have read all the Maisie Dobbs books and agree that they taught me so much about WWI. I was sorry to hear that series ended. Maybe she will go back and write more in the future. I hope so! love and prayers, jep
thank you for sharing this Donna....and I agree....not wasted.
ReplyDeleteOh, Donna, this takes my breath away. Britain and Germany lost an entire generation of men. When I read Barbara Pym and Miss Read, there are always quite a few 'spinsters' — another effect of the Great War.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to remember those that went before.
This will color (dye) my day today and that is a good thing. Powerful poppies.
So beautiful. I could hear my Dad's voice in my head, reciting the poem he learned in school, "In Flanders Fields, the poppies grow, amid the crosses, row on row..." He knew it all, that's all I can remember.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. Not wasted, indeed.
Sandy C.
Sandy C., that poem is immediately what I thought of too and began reciting the lines in my head. What a moving tribute to those who gave their lives. Thank you, Donna.
DeleteDebbie Z.
I had the privilege of seeing them in person, mid-September. Profoundly beautiful and sobering.
ReplyDeleteWhen I returned home, my husband and I decided to purchase one of the poppies. Thanks for this, Donna.
Nodding my head in agreement, not wasted.
That is incredible Susan. I know you will treasure your poppy.
DeleteWOW. So moving.
ReplyDeleteMary Z
Wow. The intersection of war and beauty is powerful. Thanks for sharing, Donna. It is too easy to forget; I am glad there are artists and dreamers who help us remember.
ReplyDeleteLove,
DI
With the poem added...it is now perfect.
ReplyDeleteSo very, very touching. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDonna, you always share the best things here, thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy great uncle was one of the 204,002 wounded U.S. servicemen from WWI. I got to meet him when I was a small child, just before he died from complication derived from mustard gas he encountered during the war. One more tidbit, a WWI soldier from our town sent his mother poppy seeds from Flanders Field and she planted them. The seeds blew from yard to yard or were shared and now our town is known as the Poppy Capitol of Texas and we have a Poppy Festival every spring. love and prayers, jep
Jep, this reminds me of Miss Rumphius, the children's book. She intentionally planted her lupines, but your poppies are a gift spread by the hand of God. How cool is that?
DeleteDi
Oh Jep,
ReplyDeleteThat is so wonderful...the poppy capitol...
I think Prince Charles would like to know that! He needs to come for a visit.
I am not kidding.
Beautiful.
Wow. Thank you for sharing this, Donna. I'd have missed it without you.
ReplyDeleteDonna,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. I agree with Di, war and beauty and loss...I've read many of the Maisie Dobbs mystery series and have learned about World War I through them. I love the image of Jep's town filled with poppies. Jep, are they red?
hmbalison
They are red poppies and some years we have more than others. The Chamber of Commerce has poppy seeds for sale and we have tried and tried to get them to grow in our garden without success. Then last year we had one poppy that came up not in a place we planted seeds...truly a blessing from the wind and God's hand.
DeleteI have read all the Maisie Dobbs books and agree that they taught me so much about WWI. I was sorry to hear that series ended. Maybe she will go back and write more in the future. I hope so! love and prayers, jep
Flanders Field, indeed. So moving.
ReplyDelete