Why I wear a Poppy

I have listened to and had a fair few conversations about whether you should wear a poppy.

I think it's important.

This is why:

Anthem for Doomed Youth

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries for them; no prayers nor bells,
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?

Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Or pretty much any Wilfred Owen poem.

For me the poppy is part remembrance, part fury that we still haven't learned.

If we had, this wouldn't have been created:



Thank you to Huey Morgan for playing it this morning on 6 music.

I can think of few more appropriate songs today.

Wear a Poppy, remember, never again.