2015 Paris Attacks | a poem

14th November 2015

Three days ago the last post rang
Two silent minutes. We stood still and sure
That however long ago it was
We’d forget no one who died in the war

Poppies still grow in the fields where they fought
Where all those brave men died
We wear them on remembrance day
The veterans stand still then with pride

Then we take off our coats when the service is done
And the paper poppy pins
And as red-hands load up the guns once more
Our peace symbols fill up the bins

Then back to our own busy lives we go
So full we forget to remember
As we work and play and fill our time
In the cold, wet days of November

So how can we learn from these wars that were fought
When killing and violence holds sway?
And poppy-red bleeds down the shocked nation's streets
Of Paris. Yesterday

The events of last night cut fresh in our minds
La guerre n’est pas terminée
The shock and the grief and the great waste of life!
Remembering is here
Now
Today…