Edward Cracroft Lefroy: His Life and Poems including a Reprint of Echoes from Theocritus: By Wilfred Austin Gill: With a Critical Estimate of the Sonnets by the late John Addington Symonds |
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 | Edward Cracroft Lefroy: His Life and Poems |  |
99
IX
POPPIES
O poppies in the meadow red and red,
And red and red through all the ripening corn,
I like the courage of that flaunting head
Which fronts the world so ragged, bold, and torn.
Why have our singers left your name unsaid,
Who might at least have flung you scorn for scorn,
Not passed you by to grieve unanswerèd,
And for pure lack of foemen grow forlorn?
See where I lift my hand to dash you dead—
What! is the joy of battle more than pain?
Nay, let us fight with angry words instead:
O cursèd flowers and vile, O stain and bane,
Go, turn your shameless faces to the bed!
Content ye yet,—or shall I strike again?
| Edward Cracroft Lefroy: His Life and Poems | |