[This text is taken from the New York edition of 1919.]
John McCrae, physician, soldier, and poet, died in France a Lieutenant-Colonel with the Canadian forces.
The poem which gives this collection of his lovely verse its name has been extensively reprinted, and received with unusual enthusiasm.
The volume contains, as well, a striking essay in character by his friend, Sir Andrew Macphail.
{Although the poem itself is included shortly, this next section is included for completeness, and to show John McCrae's punctuation — also to show that I'm not the only one who forgets lines. — A. L.}
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders fields the poppies grow
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
{From a} Facsimile of an autograph copy of the poem "In Flanders Fields"
This was probably written from memory as "grow" is used in place of "blow" in the first line.
CONTENTS
[ Contents With Dates of Origin ]
[ In Flanders Fields ]
[ The Anxious Dead ]
[ The Warrior ]
[ Isandlwana ]
[ The Unconquered Dead ]
[ The Captain ]
[ The Song of the Derelict ]
[ Quebec ]
[ Then and Now ]
[ Unsolved ]
[ The Hope of My Heart ]
[ Penance ]
[ Slumber Songs ]
[ The Oldest Drama ]
[ Recompense ]
[ Mine Host ]
[ Equality ]
[ Anarchy ]
[ Disarmament ]
[ The Dead Master ]
[ The Harvest of the Sea ]
[ The Dying of Pere Pierre ]
[ Eventide ]
[ Upon Watts' Picture "Sic Transit" ]
[ A Song of Comfort ]
[ The Pilgrims ]
[ The Shadow of the Cross ]
[ The Night Cometh ]
[ In Due Season ]
[ JOHN MCCRAE ]
[ I. In Flanders Fields ]
[ II. With the Guns ]
[ Here ends the account of his part in this memorable battle, ]
[ And here follow some general observations upon the experience: ]
[ A few strokes will complete the picture: ]
[ And here is one last note to his mother: ]
[ At this time the Canadian division was moving south to take its share in ]
[ This phase of the war lasted two months precisely, ]
[ III. The Brand of War ]
[ IV. Going to the Wars ]
[ V. South Africa ]
[ The next entry is from South Africa: ]
[ The next letter is from the Lines of Communication: ]
[ Three weeks later he writes: ]
[ With Ian Hamilton's column near Balmoral. ]
[ At Lyndenburg: ]
[ VI. Children and Animals ]
[ VII. The Old Land and the New ]
[ VIII. The Civil Years ]
[ IX. Dead in His Prime ]