Two Poems On The Remembrance Day Of Canada

A poppy field in remembrance of the Canadian war dead

Artwork (Toronto: November 2018) © Mary D'Costa

Canadians, at 11 a.m. on November 11 every year, observe a moment of silence in honour and remembrance of the dedicated soldiers who gave their lives and the living ones who continue to serve in the army during wars and conflicts. Those who died fighting for freedom and peace in the First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), Korean War (1950-1953), and Afghanistan War (2001-2014) are especially remembered.

To learn more, please read the following:

• Remembrance Day in Canada (Nov. 7, 2011)
• Remembrance Day in Canada 
• What's special about this Remembrance Day? Most Canadians don't know (Nov. 7, 2018)
• [Video] Remembrance Day Video -- 11 Canadian Contributions (July 14, 2018)
• [Video] Remembrance Day -- Canada Remembers on Nov. 11

On the occasion of the Remembrance Day in Canada, we present below Adrian D'Costa's two poems. 

Blood Soaked Poppies

By Adrian D’Costa

Armistice Day was it. So, they call it.

A break from the war.

Then again, the barrage of fire started.

Our boys and girls fought there at the Flanders Fields.

The blood that gushed out of their body

Filled the emptiness left behind by enemies.

Enemy soldiers were killing whoever was on their way.

Each day’s bloodshed grew new poppies in the field.

Poppy grew one after another. And another. And another.

Soon they make the field red.

Bloody was it. The field was red blood.

The roads were blood-soaked muddy.

But our boys stayed strong.

Our girls stayed steadfast.

They knew what they were there for.

They knew it from the beginning.

So, they sacrificed the ultimate sacrifice.

Now they are written in the stone walls of the world.

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 

we cease to exist and remember them out of respect.

History will repeat again

If we forget the past over and over

And the same mistake will emerge out of darkness.

Will eat our lives alive.

So, we bow our heads in silence for two minutes.

Lest we forget.

Peace In A No Man’s Land

By Adrian D’Costa

Peace. What is the true nature of Thou
in thy own poppy field?
Are you the melted poppy in the Flanders Fields
or are you the old forgotten poppy in
the Arlington Cemetery?

Then why do I bow my head
on the Remembrance Day?
If the poppy reminds us the
wet, muddy and bloody war history
then why do we bear weapons 

against our brethren and sisters?

After every soldier’s fall
the 21-gun salute
rings from one end of the earth
to another.
Then on the next second why
another one drenches his
suit with the red blood of his own?

Why the canon ball rises high up in the air
and doesn’t strike our moral conscience?
Peace, are you that fragile?
Are you a being or an innate object
played by monstrous monstrosity?

Why the decapitated mind of falsification
hides the truth from the fact?
Why Peace lies to humanity repeatedly
and tries to make amend for the errors made before?

I lie here and try to fathom
the diluted mind of anguish.
After a lot of soul searching
I define peace to be a part of the moral compass
that each and everyone possesses
to make this world a better place.

It’s not the fault of the peace though,
that the world is in entropy and in disarray.
The war in the field, the mines in the battleground --
They are not part of the peace.
They are what they are.
They are absolute wretchedness of social autocracy.
I can be superior to them.
That’s the pride.
And that’s the first reason in the causal effect.

Today Is Canada's Remembrance Day

Canada remembers its fallen soldiers who valiantly served or gave their lives for world peace

Painting (Toronto: November 11, 2012) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

Today is Canada's Remembrance Day. Canadians observe this day every year in honour of Canadian soldiers who served and are still alive and those who died in World War I, World War II, Korean War and Afghanistan War.

The Canadian contributions to these wars have been recognized throughout the world by peace-loving people. Other Commonwealth countries and the USA also observe this day in a solemn manner. 

Canada Observes the Remembrance Day Today

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On this day, Canada observes the annual Remembrance Day with due respect to the numerous Canadian soldiers -- dead and alive -- who served in the World War I, World War II, Korean War and the war in Afghanistan.

The federal government officials in a special ceremony in the National War Memorial in Ottawa paid their tribute to the soldiers. Provincial government officials do the same in their respective provincial capitals.

Cultural and educational organizations and institutions have their own programmes for observing the day. The general public purchase poppy flowers, symbols of the soldiers fighting in the wars, and wear them on their lapels as a mark of respect.

Today we salute our soldiers who made their supreme sacrifice in defending the freedom and peace in this world.

A poppy flower for use on the lapel
Photo (Toronto: November 11, 2010) © Jerome D'Costa

A beautiful cartoon on the Remembrance Day of 2010
Cartoon courtesy: The Toronto Star (Nov. 11, 2010)

A 25-cent Canadian coin with a poppy flower
commemorates the Armistice Day

Photo (Toronto: Nov. 11, 2010) © Jerome D'Costa

Today is the Remembrance Day in Canada

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Canada observes the Remembrance Day every year on November 11. On this day, the Canadians commemorate the valiant sacrifices made by Canadian armed forces and civilians during times of war -- the First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), Korean War (1950-1953) and, lately, Afghanistan War.

It is observed on November 11, in memory of the signing of the Armistice (truce) between the Allies of the First World War and Germany at Rethondes, France, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. This armistice brought about the end of hostility on the Western Front.

In the week leading to the Remembrance Day, people wear poppy flower on their lapels. This flower symbolizes the sacrifices made by soldiers, especially on the Western Front, where this flower grew aplenty.

The Governor General and the Federal Government ministers participate in an impressive ceremony at the National War Memorial in the Confederation Square of downtown Ottawa to observe the Remembrance Day. Originally designed to honour 60,000 Canadians who died in the First World War, the National War Memorial now honours all of Canada's war dead.

Designed by Vernon March of England, the Memorial has a 21-metre high arch (with winged figures symbolizing Peace and Liberty) and 23 bronze figures (representing people who fought the First World War). These figures are moving from war to peace. The designer chose "The Great Response of Canada" as the theme of this National War Memorial.

The National War Memorial also houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was originally sited at the Canadian Memorial on Vimy Ridge, France. On May 25, 2000, the remains of this unknown Canadian soldier was brought to Canada and, after display of due respect in the Parliament Building, were laid to rest in the specially constructed tomb at the National War Memorial on May 28.

The following "Ode of Remembrance" is recited at the memorial services held on the Day of Remembrance. Laurence Binyon was the writer of the Ode of Remembrance, a poem published in the Times of London in September, 1914:

The Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

On my visit to Ottawa on July 27, 2009, I had taken some photos of the National War Memorial. You may view these photos below:

The National War Memorial, Ottawa (July 27, 2009)
Photos © Jerome D'Costa