Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TEN YEARS AFTER by JOSEPH AUSLANDER

Poet Analysis

First Line: IN FLANDERS AND IN FRANCE THE POPPIES BLOOM
Last Line: TEN YEARS AGO WE COULD NOT GIVE ENOUGH.
Subject(s): DEATH; SOLDIERS; VETERANS DAY; WORLD WAR I; DEAD, THE; FIRST WORLD WAR;
In Flanders and in France the poppies bloom
Blood-bright; and from the crimson pits where hell
Roared his red laughter golden bees resume
Their dark industrial bass; and like a bell
Of silver flame the lark shakes heaven down;
Wheels turn; the harvests burst the bins apart;
The dead men have their sleep and their renown;
And peace broods with her hand upon her heart.

We strap wings to our shoulders, plot the poles,
Lift living voices from the air, explore,
Build, break, rebuild, drive bargains, sell our souls,
Call in our loans and calculate the war. ...
Ten years ago we gave the heart's red stuff;
Ten years ago we could not give enough.



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