In Flanders Fields
BY JOHN MCCRAE
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.Sui campi delle Fiandre spuntano i papaveri tra le croci, fila dopo fila, che ci segnano il posto; e nel cielo le allodole, cantando ancora con coraggio, volano appena udite tra i cannoni, sotto.Noi siamo i Morti. Pochi giorni fa eravamo vivi, sentivamo l'alba, vedevamo risplendere il tramonto, amanti e amati.Ma adesso giacciamo sui campi delle Fiandre.
Riprendete voi la lotta col nemico:
a voi passiamo la torcia, con le nostre mani cadenti, e sian le vostre a tenerla alta.e se non ci ricorderete, noi che moriamo, non dormiremo anche se i papaveri cresceranno sui campi di Fiandra.
WORLD WAR I
World war I was fought by 135 countries, which formed a series of alliances. The Allied forces included UK, Russia, France, Serbia and Italy. The central powers included German Empire, Austro- Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. 9.7 million soldiers and 6 million civilians died. It is mostly known for the use of trench warfare, from which soldiers used to fight.
POEM ANALYSIS
This poem came to symbolize the sacrifices of all who were fighting in the First World War.Today, the poem continues to be a part of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Canada and other countries throughout the world. The author John McCrae was a teacher and doctor, who served in World War I.
INSPIRATION FOR THE POEM
When Britain and Germany started the war in 1914 Canadians joined the war, so McCrae joined as a medical officer. He took part to the second Battle of Ypres. He stayed in the trenches, surrounded by dead and dying people. The day before writing the poem one of his dearest friend was killed and buried with a simple wooden cross, among many other dead soldiers. Poppies bloom all over the
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