The heart of the poppy remembers.
During the Napoleonic era, it was first noticed that blood red poppies bloomed in fields that had seen battle. Somehow, the earth remembered. Later it was discovered that the chalk in the soil reacted with the lime left from the rubble created during battles. Regardless of the science, what is most important is that the poppies remembered. Human activity did not go unnoticed by nature.
And if the earth can remember pain and suffering, I wonder, can it not also remember joy?
Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
~ Kahlil Gibran
Does the grass remember the children who ran across it barefoot all those years ago? Do the trees remember the boys who played their army games from their makeshift bases among them in the woods? Now the boys are grown and war is no longer a game. If the forest can remember, does it also long for their return?
Long after I am gone, and the trees and grass are still here, will they continue to hold the memories of the boys who played among them? These boys who too quickly grew into men and travelled far from home? And one who especially liked to run barefoot through the woods and is now serving in Afghanistan, a land known for its poppies, and the ravages of its war?
I hope so. But if the trees and grass forget, I’m sure the poppies that spring up every year in the front yard will remind them.
Flandrum Hill 
Beautiful thoughts, Amy.
Praying for Kip’s safety over there, as well as for the nephew who is being deployed.
Thanks Joan. Your prayers for Kip and his cousin Zach are appreciated.
Lovely post. I’m thankful for Kip’s service and keeping him in my prayers. And now another family memeber is going? I’m so grateful for them.
Glad you liked the post millhill. Thank you for your prayers.
Beautiful, moving post….perfect for ‘Remembrance Day’ – ‘Veteran’s Day’ here. Your son and nephew remain in my prayers….thank them for me for their service!
Thanks Cindy. I heard yesterday that Americans don’t wear poppies anymore like we do in Canada and the UK. Is this true?
I believe that’s correct. Americans do not wear poppies. I’m not sure why they don’t, as it would be an act of solidarity with the rest of the Allies. Maybe they did in decades past, but not in the last 50 years which I have been in America, that I have seen. As my father was very active as a War Veteran, I never saw any of them wear poppies at the functions they attended.
From what I’ve been able to gather online, poppies are sometimes worn around Memorial Day (late May) in the US. They’re worn by everyone in Canada – this year I’ve even seen some sticker poppies on children’s jackets so that they don’t have to deal with pins.
And we remember the earth remembering, sorrow and joy.
Pamela, there is so much to remember and reflect upon concerning the past. Sometimes I think this is missed with the present popular focus of ‘living in the present.’
Mothers’ hearts remember their little boys and girls, and leap at the sight of the lovely men and women they became. Our heads tell us the love we send them, waves of it, blankets of it, garlands of it, cannot protect them from the wide world, but our hearts say never mind, and the love flows anyway, great clouds of it. Peace.
Your beautiful words underline the sentiment of my post Gerry. Thank you. xo
This mother, whose two sons were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan, and sent again, and again, gratefully shares your sentiments.
Nina, soldiers’ mothers are not alone in their concern for their boys. Peace to you and yours.
It’s a beautiful post, Amy.
I wore poppies every Remembrance Day, after school age, growing up in Australia, and as a life-long flower-lover, they have always been one of my favorites.
I firmly believe our Gaia goddess exists and that our planet is an alive entity in its own and enduring way.
The Great Source of Life doesn’t create “dead” things!
Quantum theory would explain “inanimate” “objects” like “rocks” as just a slower form of energy, but energy nonetheless.
Scientists have known since the 1950’s that our planet has a “heartbeat”. It’s called the Schumann Resonance. It just backs up what seers and intuitives have always known.
Now, to Afghanistan. When my husband and I visited Afghanistan in December 1970, it was a different world there (as it was in India and Pakistan, which we passed through on our way from home in Bangkok).
I had wanted to visit Afghanistan, because I was intrigued by all the information an Afghan student at my university had regaled me with about his country.
When we arrived, I found the migrating tribal children delightful and the women unapproachable from behind their “chadri” veils (except for the few who had managed to break free and were out in the “real” world … these women were smart, independent and strong emotionally). The Afghan men were definitely in 2 camps — open, inviting, proud of their culture and traditions OR just plain leering — in a way that I’ve only felt in Arab countries, even though I was demurely dressed.
The people looked like every nation on earth. It was fascinating.
And the photos I have (on slides) are ones I hope to resurrect and digitalize, as a tribute to a proud and independent people who have been raped by the “great” civilizations, since time immemorial, but yet have endured.
Yet, as I grow older and older, I am disgusted by the politicians never rising to become states”men”. Diplomacy comes as an afterthought far too often, when wars should only happen (if at all) after every other avenue has been exhausted.
My father served in the Marine Corps at Guadalcanal, and my husband was an Air Force officer in the Vietnam war. My first grandson has been born this year, and I don’t want him ever to be sacrificed for some politician’s poor efforts or lack of efforts.
I will keep your dear ones in my heart too.
Keep doing as you are doing, for Gaia will nurture your spirit as you connect with her every morning on your walks.
And, by the way, do you know about Bach Flower Essences? They will truly help all of your family get through these deployments, and beyond.
Best to all — Em
Thank you for adding your thoughts on the earth and notes on your personal experiences in Afghanistan Em.
I’ve never heard of the Schumann Resonance before. Will have to look that one up.
Though as a Christian I don’t share your belief in an earth goddess, I love learning about how others make sense of the world around them from a spiritual perspective. I will often refer to the earth as ‘she’ probably due to my early francophone education that forced me to regard everything as either male or female.
Anything along the lines of ‘Bach Flower Essences’ are bound to raise some eyebrows here 🙂 but I will have to look that one up too. Thanks again.
Beautiful post.
We do have the red “buddy” poppy in America – the VFW hands them out. The donations are used for rehabilitation for our Veterans.
In your post you refer to the chalk and the lime – did that make the poppies grow red?
Thanks for that clarification Dawn.
I don’t think the chalk and lime necessarily made the poppies grow red. It just made that type of flower grow. From my experiences with growing poppies, it seems like the red ones are the hardiest type. Once they find a soil they like, they just keep on growing from year to year.
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