A Peace Poem For Remembrance Day: Blue Poppy

By Nikki Wordsmith
Blogger & Journalist

11am Saturday 11th November 2023

BLUE POPPY

I am patriotic. 
I stand outside The Body Shop
in a mall next door to Deichmann
on Remembrance Day.

Shoppers stream by quickly
going nowhere fast.
I wear a paper poppy. 
I shake a cylindrical pot.

I smile pleasantly.
Hoping to make eye contact.
Shoppers crawl by slowly
with a thousand yard stare.

I am neurotic. 
White teeth do not rot.
A red hand, a metal coin 
slides into the plastic slot.

Thank you happy shopper.
No contribution is too small.
Millions of war memories 
waltz around the market stalls.

This one sells medals
worn by an old boy at the Somme.
There is no one left to fight 
they have all long gone.

In the Army and Navy Store 
I see black paratrooper boots.
I can wear them to go dancing 
in Reykjavik next week.

I am going round the bend.
Does anybody want to come?
The things we think that make us happy  –
honestly do not.

For All The Lost Souls Who Have Died Defending Life

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Please note no AI was hurt during the writing of this poem.

Apologies in advance. As this poem has been written in dark blue on a light blue background for aesthetic reasons. If you are struggling to read the poem text above, please use the accessibility “speak screen” function on your phone or the “read aloud” option on the webpage commands.

#PeacePoetry #BluePoppy #RedPoppy #RemembranceSunday #WarPoetry