My kitty rolls on the floor,
claw-less front paws
grasping a fake red flower.
On a tag is printed:
“At the 11th hour,
of the 11th day,
of the 11th month…
We will remember them.”
Such is the promise of the poppy.
Today in the news:
Police say Taliban militants have attacked
and killed seven officers cutting down
a field of opium poppies.
They are dying in fields of poppies.
Today in the news:
United Nations drug officials
say the new Afghan Government
has largely failed in its efforts
to eradicate the opium poppy crop.
They aren’t killing enough poppies.
Today in the news:
Afghanistan will produce
another enormous opium poppy crop this year,
close to last year’s record harvest.
Europe and other regions should…
Send soldiers to die in the poppy fields.
Today in the news:
“With the support of
a United Nations led offensive,
The Afghan government
must take decisive action
against poppy cultivation.”
More blood for the soil in the poppy fields.
Today in the news
Though the farmers are nearly starving;
The Afghan poppy trade
is worth four billion dollars.
Afghanistan grew more opium poppies
in 2007 than ever before.
It makes up 93% of the world’s supply.
Someone is getting rich from the poppy fields.
Today in the news:
An ambassador urges Afghan authorities
to stop poppy cultivation.
The red flowers grow in rows; poppy fields.
Today in the news:
The Afghan poppy eradication effort
was called a bitter failure.
Then why are we still
sending out our mother’s sons
and bringing home flag covered coffins?
It is a testament to the futility of fighting in the poppy fields.
Today in the news:
With the Taliban insurgency still raging,
counter-narcotics teams in Afghanistan
have been unable to make any impact
on the poppy problem…
…as the winds of war blow through the poppy fields.
My kitty rolls on the floor,
claw-less front paws
grasping a fake red flower.
On a tag is printed:
“At the 11th hour,
of the 11th day,
of the 11th month…
We will remember them.”
Such is the promise of the poppy.
_________________________________
Lou Marin, a Christian grateful for Jesus’ gift to him, was born and raised in the western hills of Maine, then spent 20 plus years wandering the country and world in the United States Air Force. Maine Department of American Legion’s Historian, he is a photographer and stringer for The Maine Trust for Local News, published poet and short story writer who pens faith based devotionals. He lives in Rumford, Maine. He is author of an anthology of poems based upon his military career entitled “Dimly Seen Through The Mists,” and a book of faith based poems entitled “My Lighthouse In Troubled Times,” available through Pen It! Publications.
Lou can be reached at mbsphotog@yahoo.com or his Facebook Page.
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