The Poem of the Poppy

Back in October I posted one of my daughter's poems. Here's another one that she wrote for Remembrance Day. Once again it just blows me away. How she can evoke such emotion and capture such poignancy whilst still so young astounds me. Anyway, enjoy it.

The Poem of the Poppy

You sacrificed your life for me

for I am the blood red and black poppy.

I dance upon the graves of so many lost men.

My friends join me in this scarlet cemetery.

Day after day I see never ending landscape and the cities of grass

But always in front of my eyes are the memories,

memories of the war that come to haunt me.

I see so many men as they fall to their death, everywhere.

The terrible screaming, even as I cover my ears ~
all penetrate my leafy hands and I hear it louder and louder than ever.

The taste of bitter blood, falls to my mouth

but I can't run and hide from this nightmare.

Now it's just a memory, still vivid, but a memory

You sacrificed your life for me

for I am the blood red and black poppy.

I dance upon the graves of so many lost men,

my friends join me in this scarlet cemetery.

by Katy Jenkinson

(my daughter, Aged 10)

Am I proud of her? You bet I am. Incredible stuff!

My Daughter's Amazing Poem

I have to post this as I'm just blown away by how good it is. My daughter wrote this poem inspired by a small sheltered cove\beach we went to on holiday in Devon. If you saw the place you would see how much this poem brings it to life. She had no help with this. Frankly I lack the talent to come up with anything half as good as this anyway. Here it is....

The Empty Beach
Far away, as if in my dreams,
there is a secret place I know
A mysterious place, a secret place
a sandy beach by a rocky face

A little cove, so far away,
that I visited on a sunny day
The sand was shiny with coloured stones
The boats so tiny on the sea's blue tones

The little cove, a happy beach
Where magic seems to be in reach
And when you have to leave it soon
It's night, stars light up and so does the moon


Did I say that she's only 10? It literally chokes me up when I read it. Such powerful emotions well up inside me. I'm a very proud Dad!