Some lens/camera issues meant I unfortunately ended up with a lot of out-of-focus images during my London escapades. I eventually figured out a work-around and was glad that at least a couple images of the incredible poppy display at the Tower of London were salvageable. It was sobering to see the moat filled with more than 888,000 of the ceramic flowers. In my mind, I kept hearing parts of the Paul Aitken choir song I sang back in high school, which used the words of John McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
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.-John McCrae, 1915
Started pouring during the 5th of November fireworks display. People took shelter in the underground walkway tunnels.
No Comments