Here is the famous poem written by Lt. Colonel John McCrae. In the spring of 1915, shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, inspired by the sight of poppies growing in battle-scarred fields wrote the poem 'In Flanders Fields'. After the First World War, the poppy was adopted as a symbol of Remembrance. THE 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.