Scarlet Poppies

I laboured on the farmer’s land I ploughed the furrows all day long The simple life was good enough The air was fresh, my arms were strong I’d walk along the winding path That took me to the misty dell Where many scarlet poppies grew And there I’d meet my dear Michelle By a lake of blue she would wait A sweet smile on her lovely face A scarlet poppy I would pick For in my lover’s hair to place One day I went to meet Michelle And told her I’d been called to fight A pointless war across the sea She cried, we held each other tight A foreign trench with thoughts of her The soil was damp with morning dew It smelled just like the place we’d meet The place where scarlet poppies grew And then we charged our chosen foe Much carnage wreaked that bloody day I saw my comrade on the ground Saw that his legs were blown away I heard him crying out my name His eyes stared at the cold grey sky ‘My life is through, all hope is gone ‘Tis better now that I should die’ His tortured voice I could not bear ‘Goodbye to you dear friend’ I said I kissed his cheek, I shed a tear I put my gun against his head As I approached a grassy ridge The soldier lay upon the crest I stared into the face of death His bullet sank into my chest Now all my dying eyes can see Are scarlet poppies where I fell Like those that grow in English fields Those I picked for my dear Michelle