In Flanders Fields

by John McRae

  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.

Some poems are written to sound more like songs than poems. One form of poetry that has the feel of a song is the rondeau. In a rondeau, the opening line is repeated throughout the poem. Can you figure out what line that is in the poem below?

Of course, writing a rondeau isn't as simple as just repeating the opening line. Watch the video below to learn more about writing a rondeau.