Remembrance Day 2014

In Flanders fields

In Flanders fields the poppies grow,
      

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.

This well-known Remembrance Day poem was written by John McCrae, a poet and physician from Guelph, Ontario.  While most people know the first couple of lines of the poem, I'm embarrassed to admit I only learned the rest of it a few years ago.  I'm curious to know if this poem is only popular in Canada, or elsewhere too?

The following poem I've heard was found on the wall of a hospital in the Philippines after WWII:

A Prayer to Saint Peter

Let them in, Peter

For they are very tired

Give them couches where the angels sleep

And light those fires

Let them wake whole again

To brand new dawns

Fired by the sun

Not war-times bloody guns

May their peace be deep

Remember where the broken bodies lie

God knows how young they were

To have to die

Give them things they like

Let them make some noise

Give dance hall bands not golden harps

To these our boys

Let them love, Peter

For they've had no time

They should have bird songs and trees

And hills to climb

The taste of summer

And a ripened pear

And girls as sweet as meadow wind

And flowing hair

And tell them how they are missed

But say not to fear

It's gonna be all right

With us down here

And later Edwin McCain put it to song:

Lest We Forget.