THE WAR POPPY
Engulfed by crimson, I bow my head;

Your pain and tears wilt me.

In the soil and mud, I found my place;

Where the still of peace embraced thee.
Here I watch over, where others laid;

Weary and rough as I.

Their memory nurtures and sets me free,

So I bloom from where they lie.
I stand strong and unyielding, for I am proud;

Like you, I am blessed and free.

As we remember those who gave,

Their lives for you and me.
‘The War Poppy’ Poem by Jacqueline Hurley (2017)

‘War Poppies’ Painting by Jacqueline Hurley (2017)