I have never bought a poppy in my life
Never worn one never wanted to
I respect those who wear them
Respect the memory too
But I don’t believe in armies
I don’t like the things they do
Would I have been a ‘conscy’? I don’t know
Back then and young
Might have been keen to go
And fall in Flanders Field
Just like Uncle John
Out to do my bit
We shall not yield
And being half Irish
There’s a problem with the Brits
And what they did in Ireland
In their day
And what they did in Kenya
In India Malay
We’re as bad as one another
Your turn to have your say
So I’d rather leave the poppy
In the field
And let it grow to greatness
Where it blooms
And I’ll quietly remember
My uncles on this day
And all who are still falling
As we fight to get our way
Brian Fahy
14 November 2021