In Flanders fields the poppies blow...

[Skidmore]

One hundred years ago, they were counting the war dead in 100 thousands. Must we count them in that number yet again? What has man learned?

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/07/tower-of-london-poppies/

888,246 Ceramic Poppies Flow Like Blood from the Tower of London to Commemorate WWI







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.

-- Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

[sheshe2]

1. “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red,”

A beautiful tribute, thank you Skidmore.

[alterfurz]

2. Flanders fields prepared for poppies

photographer Frank Hurley (1885-1962): The morning after the first battle of Passchendaele [Passendale] showing Australian Infantry wounded around a blockhouse near the site of Zonnebeke Railway Station, 12 October 1917

[countryjake]

3. That's an amazing project! I like the way the poppies swoop across the bridge

All of those photos alone are a beautiful tribute to their 888,246 dead, it'll be quite moving to actually see, once it's finished.

[Hekate]

4. I wasn't prepared for that pic, and it gave me chills all over.

"Did you really believe them when they told you the cause,
Did you really believe that this war would end wars?"

[ReRe]

12. That was beautiful, Hekate.

This is quickly becoming a thread for the "greatest" file. Thank you for your addition.

[malaise]

5. Humanity needs a jolt like this

but do we ever learn?

[seveneyes]

6. Your Possible Past

In derelict sidings, the poppies entwine.

[lovemydog]

7. Yes, they loved and were loved.

May they rest in peace.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. What an amazing photograph...

It breaks my heart and takes my breath away, all at the same time.


And no, we will never learn.

[Half-Century Man]

9. Older than the Napoleonic wars.

This is from one of my favorite English imports.

We should understand, the price of Empire is severe, red, and smells like iron.

[FailureToCommunicate]

14. (Huzzah for John Tams!)

One of the greats.

[Half-Century Man]

18. Sharpe should be mandatory viewing for those that seek to enlist.

[surrealAmerican]

10. Wow. Chilling.

That's very effective public art. Thanks for posting.

[PatrickforO]

11. Funny, WWI was known as the 'war to end all wars.'

Didn't work too well did it? In a world full of militarism, and military-industrial capitalists, people are deemed less important than profits.

In a world of chest-pounding nationalism, other peoples are deemed less important.

In a world of chest-pounding religious zealotry, people who believe differently are deemed less important.

So what do we do with people we deem less important?

Why, kill them of course!

We've gotta make a buck...

[ReRe]

13. Get thee to the greatest file!

K&R

[Strelnikov_]

15. ..

[Strelnikov_]

16. England is still scarred

Most of those deaths occurred in two battles.

The Somme, and Passchendaele.

The first probably had some merit from a strategic standpoint. The second, not so much.

[pipi_k]

17. Seems like a hundred years ago

Since we had to memorize that poem for eighth grade English.

Ok, it was 1965


I can't remember why I walked into the next room, but damn, I can still recite that poem by heart.