The author of this poem had spent 17 days treating injured men -Canadians, British, Indians, French and Germans in the Ypres salient. The death of a young friend and former student inspired him to write this poem while sitting in the back of an ambulance near Canal de l'Yser where all the poppies were blooming.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS
(written in 1915 on the battlefield)

By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD
Canadian Army

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.