Like rivers of blood so flooding,
These poppies stay ever budding…
Stalks look like tired soldiers, nodding,
Stems stall like soldiers scaffolding!

Petals, like pleasing gun layers, peep,
Stamens like soldier-spiders creep;
Like smart guns, they seldom unfold,
Like army secrets soldiers hold!

Sign of still, calm, quiet future!
As enthralling armed men stature!
When, in wars, soldier-martyrs, die,
Lying on them, like mourners, cry!