"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae

Written in May of 1915 by Canadian physician, Lt. Col. John McCrae, "In Flanders Fields" is one of the most recognizable poems about the First World War. It was first published in a London magazine about 7 months after being written. The poem is still well-loved in McCrae's native Canada and was even featured on a ten dollar note in 2001.

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Program Credits

Announcer: Thomas Lamar
Narrator: J.D. Sutter
Composer: Kevin MacLeod
Sound Design & Mixing: Andrew Riffenburgh
Photography: Alexandre Vanier
Producer/Director: J.D. Sutter

Entry on Wikipedia for "In Flanders Fields"
Entry on Wikipedia for John McCrae
Detailed Info on Themes and Meaning of "In Flanders Fields"
John McCrae Bio on the Poetry Foundation

John McCrae in uniform, circa 1914
Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org

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.