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A local Grade 9 student took top prize for the poem she wrote for the Royal Canadian Legion national Youth Remembrance contest.
Antonia Tannert, a
“Inspiration came from the Flanders Field Poem and from poppies, by what it means when we say Lest We Forget,” Antonia Tannert of
To get to the nationals Tannert entered the provincial contest which she also won.
For her national win Tannert received a plaque and a prize of $500.
Here is her poem:
A Poppy Whispers
In flanders fields the poppies grow
But in our hearts their true meaning shows
They remind us that peace comes at a price
They remind us of the immeasurable sacrifice
This is what a poppy whispers
A poppy whispers for us to feel
Feel the trembling hands that fought for us
Feel the pounding hearts full of fear and sorrow
Feel the weight of each loss, luring you into an abyss
Feel the steady beating drums as the soldiers march
A poppy whispers for us to hear
Hear the whispered prayers from loved ones
Hear the screams of the dying and the silence of the dead
Hear the gunfire, the shooting and the chaos
Hear our anthem sung loud and proud
A poppy whispers for us to see
See the sacrifice it took to achieve peace
See the solemnity of a flag at half mast
See the devastation left behind on a battlefield
See the poppies planted in the fields and on our chests
A poppy whispers for us to remember
Remember the soldiers who gave their lives to fight
Remember the ones who died and the burdens the survivors carry
Remember the broken families and homes
Remember the sacrifices they made so you could be free today
In flanders fields the poppies grow
But in our hearts their true meaning shows
They remind us that peace comes at a price
They remind us of the immeasurable sacrifice
This is what a poppy whispers
