What do you think?
Rate this book
In Flanders Fields
This is the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae. This is not John McCrae's collection of poems, but rather is the single poem "In Flanders Fields", for which John McCrae is most well-known.
1 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2015
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
John McCrae
59 books15 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John McCrae was a Canadian poet, physician, and soldier whose name became immortalized through his poignant war poem In Flanders Fields. Born in Guelph, Ontario, he showed early academic promise, earning a scholarship to the University of Toronto. He studied both arts and medicine, eventually graduating as a doctor while also serving in the Canadian militia. McCrae balanced a distinguished medical career with military service, seeing combat during the Second Boer War and later volunteering for World War I at the age of 41.
During the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915, while serving as a field surgeon with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields following the death of a close friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer. The poem, first published anonymously in Punch magazine, quickly gained widespread recognition and became one of the most enduring literary symbols of the war. Its imagery of poppies growing among the graves of the fallen inspired the red poppy as a symbol of remembrance used around the world today.
McCrae was known for his deep sense of duty, compassion for his patients, and private nature. Despite his fame, he remained humble and continued his medical work, later commanding No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, France. He died of pneumonia in 1918, near the end of the war, and was buried with full military honors in Wimereux, France.
Beyond his famous poem, McCrae's legacy includes a collection of writings published posthumously, In Flanders Fields and Other Poems, as well as numerous schools, institutions, memorials, and even a mountain named in his honor. He remains a national hero in Canada and a lasting voice of remembrance across the world.
John McCrae was a Canadian poet, physician, and soldier whose name became immortalized through his poignant war poem In Flanders Fields. Born in Guelph, Ontario, he showed early academic promise, earning a scholarship to the University of Toronto. He studied both arts and medicine, eventually graduating as a doctor while also serving in the Canadian militia. McCrae balanced a distinguished medical career with military service, seeing combat during the Second Boer War and later volunteering for World War I at the age of 41.
During the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915, while serving as a field surgeon with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields following the death of a close friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer. The poem, first published anonymously in Punch magazine, quickly gained widespread recognition and became one of the most enduring literary symbols of the war. Its imagery of poppies growing among the graves of the fallen inspired the red poppy as a symbol of remembrance used around the world today.
McCrae was known for his deep sense of duty, compassion for his patients, and private nature. Despite his fame, he remained humble and continued his medical work, later commanding No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, France. He died of pneumonia in 1918, near the end of the war, and was buried with full military honors in Wimereux, France.
Beyond his famous poem, McCrae's legacy includes a collection of writings published posthumously, In Flanders Fields and Other Poems, as well as numerous schools, institutions, memorials, and even a mountain named in his honor. He remains a national hero in Canada and a lasting voice of remembrance across the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 6, 2021
On holiday last year we came across this wonderful poem on the side of a building. The gates were padlocked shut, so I had to take the picture at an angle.
This year is a very different ANZAC Day for us. We are in Lockdown, so no official commemorations, although many (like our tireless PM) got up at 6 am & stood silently in their driveways. I marked it at 8.30 am. It is a beautiful day & I could hear a single drum, beating a lonely tattoo.
To respect Lockdown, (& social distancing) I went to our War Memorial Monument yesterday. It was a perfect day & I was standing in the olive grove that has been planted behind The Monument.
I had a walk in our silent town. A poppy from the museum where I normally volunteer a couple of times a month.
In front of someone's home.
This is an expanded picture. Not very good & it isn't clear that this is rosemary in the planters.
And on another fence. This guy would probably laugh to be called an artist, but he has done a number of metal sculptures in our town.
This year is a very different ANZAC Day for us. We are in Lockdown, so no official commemorations, although many (like our tireless PM) got up at 6 am & stood silently in their driveways. I marked it at 8.30 am. It is a beautiful day & I could hear a single drum, beating a lonely tattoo.
To respect Lockdown, (& social distancing) I went to our War Memorial Monument yesterday. It was a perfect day & I was standing in the olive grove that has been planted behind The Monument.
I had a walk in our silent town. A poppy from the museum where I normally volunteer a couple of times a month.
In front of someone's home.
This is an expanded picture. Not very good & it isn't clear that this is rosemary in the planters.
And on another fence. This guy would probably laugh to be called an artist, but he has done a number of metal sculptures in our town.
Supposedly, the original version of this moving poem had "grow" rather than "blow" for the poppies. I think I prefer this, but either way this rondeau written for a fallen friend is extremely moving. McCrae died of pneumonia near the end of the war.
Lest we forget.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
April 24, 2020
A moving poem that weaves together death and beauty. A reminder for all of us to be grateful to those who 'loved and were loved'.
August 21, 2019
This was a tricky one for me.
I have arranged my takeaway thoughts into a haiku:
"Battlefields may bloom,
But values that called for war
Mustn't be so obscured."
I have arranged my takeaway thoughts into a haiku:
"Battlefields may bloom,
But values that called for war
Mustn't be so obscured."
February 11, 2019
In Memory of Our Valiant Servicemen
I will never view the red poppies on Veteran's Day the same way. I just read the story behind the poem, in Martin Gilbert's account of WWI, and I felt like I had to purchase a copy. I have never done that before.
I will never view the red poppies on Veteran's Day the same way. I just read the story behind the poem, in Martin Gilbert's account of WWI, and I felt like I had to purchase a copy. I have never done that before.
January 17, 2020
Voices beyond the shallow graves.
The only thing that I find difficult to appreciate is the appeal for revenge against the enemy.
(Who was the real enemy?)
In Flanders Fields
BY JOHN MCCRAE
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
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.
The only thing that I find difficult to appreciate is the appeal for revenge against the enemy.
(Who was the real enemy?)
In Flanders Fields
BY JOHN MCCRAE
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
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.
March 16, 2021
A captain in the Canadian army was at Flanders Fields (in France) attending a funeral of a fallen soldier(World War 1). He saw all the graves and poppies and got inspired to write this poem. In Canada we have Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) where Canadian wear poppies in remembrance of all of the fallen soldiers.
January 10, 2025
John McCrae’s *In Flanders Fields* is a brief but deeply impactful poetry collection that reflects the profound emotions and realities of World War I. Known primarily for its title poem, the collection explores themes of sacrifice, loss, remembrance, and the enduring spirit of those who fought in the war. McCrae’s work resonates because of its simplicity and directness, making the emotions feel immediate and raw.
The main theme of the collection is the cost of war, not only in lives lost but in the emotional weight carried by those left behind. In “In Flanders Fields,” McCrae uses the image of poppies growing among soldiers' graves to symbolize both death and rebirth. The poem captures the tension between mourning the dead and honoring their legacy by continuing the fight. There’s a sense of urgency in the poem, as if the voices of the fallen are calling out, demanding not to be forgotten.
Another recurring theme is the connection between nature and war. McCrae often contrasts the peaceful beauty of the natural world with the violence of human conflict. In poems like “The Anxious Dead,” there’s a sense that the earth itself becomes a witness to the sacrifices made. This blending of nature with human struggle gives the poems a universal quality, making the themes feel timeless.
The structure of McCrae’s poems is straightforward and traditional, often using regular rhyme and meter. This formal structure adds to the gravity of the content, giving the poems a hymn-like quality. The rhythm and rhyme make the emotions more accessible, almost like they’re meant to be spoken aloud or remembered collectively.
The tone throughout the collection is a mix of solemnity, resolve, and hope. While the poems reflect on death and loss, there’s also an underlying sense of duty and purpose. McCrae writes as both a mourner and a soldier, someone deeply affected by what he’s seen but determined to give meaning to the sacrifices made. This dual perspective gives the collection a unique voice—personal yet representative of a larger collective experience.
What stands out in McCrae’s work is its ability to balance simplicity and depth. The language is clear and unadorned, but the emotions run deep. He doesn’t try to intellectualize war or disguise its pain; instead, he presents it plainly, letting the weight of the words speak for itself.
*In Flanders Fields* is a powerful reflection on war and its consequences. McCrae’s poems honor the fallen while challenging the living to carry forward their memory and purpose. The collection’s brevity only adds to its impact, leaving readers with images and emotions that linger long after the final line.
The main theme of the collection is the cost of war, not only in lives lost but in the emotional weight carried by those left behind. In “In Flanders Fields,” McCrae uses the image of poppies growing among soldiers' graves to symbolize both death and rebirth. The poem captures the tension between mourning the dead and honoring their legacy by continuing the fight. There’s a sense of urgency in the poem, as if the voices of the fallen are calling out, demanding not to be forgotten.
Another recurring theme is the connection between nature and war. McCrae often contrasts the peaceful beauty of the natural world with the violence of human conflict. In poems like “The Anxious Dead,” there’s a sense that the earth itself becomes a witness to the sacrifices made. This blending of nature with human struggle gives the poems a universal quality, making the themes feel timeless.
The structure of McCrae’s poems is straightforward and traditional, often using regular rhyme and meter. This formal structure adds to the gravity of the content, giving the poems a hymn-like quality. The rhythm and rhyme make the emotions more accessible, almost like they’re meant to be spoken aloud or remembered collectively.
The tone throughout the collection is a mix of solemnity, resolve, and hope. While the poems reflect on death and loss, there’s also an underlying sense of duty and purpose. McCrae writes as both a mourner and a soldier, someone deeply affected by what he’s seen but determined to give meaning to the sacrifices made. This dual perspective gives the collection a unique voice—personal yet representative of a larger collective experience.
What stands out in McCrae’s work is its ability to balance simplicity and depth. The language is clear and unadorned, but the emotions run deep. He doesn’t try to intellectualize war or disguise its pain; instead, he presents it plainly, letting the weight of the words speak for itself.
*In Flanders Fields* is a powerful reflection on war and its consequences. McCrae’s poems honor the fallen while challenging the living to carry forward their memory and purpose. The collection’s brevity only adds to its impact, leaving readers with images and emotions that linger long after the final line.
July 20, 2025
It feels bad to not give this five stars but I’ve never listened to this poem properly before and it was just missing that special something that would have made it be Five Stars.
But it’s still a poem that’s stood on its own for over a hundred years now with striking imagery right from the start.
But it’s still a poem that’s stood on its own for over a hundred years now with striking imagery right from the start.
July 2, 2024
A short clear poem of war and death. Sad that these brave young men were living lives previously to the full and then they are no more.
June 5, 2025
این شعر از زبان سربازهایی که در جنگ جهانی اول کشته شدن نوشته شده
تضاد زیادی بین گل شقایق و صدای تفنگ هایی که شنیده میشه وجود داره.
به راستی که جنگ مصیبت بزرگیست
تصحیح: موقعی که اولین ریویو رو نوشتم نمیدونستم معادل فارسی اون گل میشد خشخاش و نه شقایق
Poppy = خشخاش
خوانش دوم (یکشنبه - 11 خرداد 1404 - 2025):
این سری شعر رو خیلی بهتر درک کردم.
وقتی توی شعر، شهیدهای جنگ به ما میگن که مشعل ما دست توئه و بالا نگهش دار
برداشت شخصی من اینه که از ما میخوان که نزاریم مرگشون بی فایده باشه و راه درست رو در آینده پیش بگیریم.
هرچند منظور اصلی شاعر از به دست گرفتن مشعل اینه که سربازان کشته شده از ما میخوان که به جنگیدن ادامه بدیم
نکته: شنیدن روخوانی لئونارد کوهن معروف از این شعر خالی از لطف نیست.
تضاد زیادی بین گل شقایق و صدای تفنگ هایی که شنیده میشه وجود داره.
به راستی که جنگ مصیبت بزرگیست
تصحیح: موقعی که اولین ریویو رو نوشتم نمیدونستم معادل فارسی اون گل میشد خشخاش و نه شقایق
Poppy = خشخاش
خوانش دوم (یکشنبه - 11 خرداد 1404 - 2025):
این سری شعر رو خیلی بهتر درک کردم.
وقتی توی شعر، شهیدهای جنگ به ما میگن که مشعل ما دست توئه و بالا نگهش دار
برداشت شخصی من اینه که از ما میخوان که نزاریم مرگشون بی فایده باشه و راه درست رو در آینده پیش بگیریم.
هرچند منظور اصلی شاعر از به دست گرفتن مشعل اینه که سربازان کشته شده از ما میخوان که به جنگیدن ادامه بدیم
نکته: شنیدن روخوانی لئونارد کوهن معروف از این شعر خالی از لطف نیست.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews