* John McCrae

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Created by Nate Diemer

* The Legacy of John McCrae“John McCrae’s account of World War I, ‘In Flanders Fields’ (1915), remains Canada’s best-known poem.”(John McCrae)

This quote shows that in the almost 100 years since it was published, his poem “In Flanders Fields” is still regarded as the best poem of an extremely large and diverse country. . McCrae was born on November 30, 1872, in Guelph, Ontario (“John McCrae Biography” Famous Poets and Poems.com). He was both a teacher and a student to academics and warfare. He served as a field surgeon and artilleryman in a multitude of wars, doing no shame to his father Lieutenant David McCrae (“John Mccrae Biography” Essortment.com). John died of pneumonia and meningitis during active duty as a field surgeon in the Canadian artillery (“John McCrae Biography” Famous Poets and Poems.com). It wasn’t until after his death that most of his poetry became popular or well known outside of Canada. His life was greatly influenced by the multiple wars he served in during his short 46 year life, most notably World War I. In fact, these wars shaped almost every single poem he ever wrote. There is not a large amount of information about where or when McCrae began writing poetry. What is known is that by 1899, sixteen of his poems and short stories had been published in multiple magazines .He was a very well educated man as well as a poet and a soldier. He obtained a Bachelor’s Arts Degree from the University of Toronto in 1894 (“John Mccrae Biography” Essortment.com). McCrae also studied medicine and obtained a Bachelor of Medicine Degree from the University of Toronto Medical School (“John McCrae Biography” Famous Poets and Poems.com). Although he didn’t live to see it, his poem “In Flanders Fields” became a powerful work that is renowned worldwide today. He is also known for writing many poems about his experiences in the wars he fought in throughout his life. He has a scholarship named after him and won the Victoria Cross in 1915 for his bravery.

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John McCrae’s poetry is distinct in the fact that it is mostly written about his religious ideas or of the wars he has fought in. His poetry is unique because he is writing about his experiences in these wars. He is probably best known for his elegies, which deal mostly with death. He also frequently uses figurative language and extremely vivid imagery. A great example of this is in his poem “In Flanders Fields”, where he speaks of the poppies blowing and the larks flying about, things that men who fought on the front lines would never have remembered had he not written it. He worked to create a perfect picture in your mind every time it is read and without question succeeded. Though all of his poetry is extremely meaningful, “In Flanders’s Fields” is one of the main reasons why he is remembered. He is also well known simply for his wartime achievements. He was a great man, and his influence on every poet from his death to present, will not easily be forgotten.

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*List of Works“A Song Of Comfort” “Anarchy” “Disarmament” “Equality” “Eventide” “In Due Season” “In Flanders Field” “Isandlwana” “Mine Host” “Penance” “Quebec” “Recompense” “Slumber Songs” “The Anxious Dead” “The Captain” “The Dead Master” “The Dying Of Pere Pierre” “The Harvest Of The Sea” “The Hope Of My Heart”

“The Night Cometh” “The Oldest Drama” “The Pilgrims” “The Shadow Of The Cross” “The Song Of The Derelict” “The Unconquered Dead” “The Warrior” “Then And Now” “Unsolved” “Upon Watts' Picture Sic Transit” PoemHunter.com

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In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days agoWe 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 throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields.

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

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Analysis of “In Flanders Fields”

John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields,” his most popular and renowned poem, uses very strong and vivid imagery to touch all of the senses. The poem is about the scene of the battle at Flanders Fields in WW1 as seen through the eyes of Major John McCrae. It is about all the men who had been living just hours or days prior to this battle, and about how quickly their lives were taken away. In the most meaningful lines in the poem the soldiers who have been killed pass their strength and their courage onto every living man, and ask that those still among the living work their hardest to honor those who are not. “The larks, still bravely singing, fly/ Scarce heard amid the guns below,” is where McCrae begins to paint a picture with words; a picture of the larks, noisily flying about overhead, the sound and smell of gunfire, and bullets flying everywhere. Every person who reads it can envision their own scene of the pain, fear and frustration of all the soldiers fighting for their beliefs. “We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,” Is another example of his amazing imagery. The men, now lying dead on the ground surrounded by poppies, had only such a short time ago watched the sunset and the world cool as the sun went down. In a few days, or perhaps even in a few seconds, everything had been taken away from them. There are many reasons why McCrae may have used imagery such as this in the poem. It allows the reader to create a new scene of this battle every time they think about it. It also allows McCrae to “bring his words to life” by letting the reader feel as if they were really there, and experience what every man who fought that day had. It very strongly impacts the poem by allowing the reader to almost literally step into the battle if only for a moment. It grants these words, which were written on a piece of paper and discarded by McCrae, the ability to touch any who read them. Overall, both the meaningfulness of the words and the imagery they invoke has earned this poem the title of Canada’s best known poem.

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I find this poem to have a lot of meaning far beyond that of the religion. It has a powerful theme of choosing your path. The third and fourth stanzas are where this is most present. McCrae groups people into two main groups; those who can smile and look at the bright side and those who sit sullen in sadness all day. In the end, it seems like the people who are positive tend to have things turn out much better. I can really agree with this as it seems that most people you meet enjoy life more when they look at the good things rather than the bad.

The day is past and the toilers cease;The land grows dim 'mid the shadows grey,And hearts are glad, for the dark brings peaceAt the close of day.

Each weary toiler, with lingering pace,As he homeward turns, with the long day done,Looks out to the west, with the light on his faceOf the setting sun.

Yet some see not (with their sin-dimmed eyes)The promise of rest in the fading light;But the clouds loom dark in the angry skiesAt the fall of night.

And some see only a golden skyWhere the elms their welcoming arms stretch wideTo the calling rooks, as they homeward flyAt the eventide.

It speaks of peace that comes after strife,Of the rest He sends to the hearts He tried,Of the calm that follows the stormiest life --God's eventide

Eventide by John McCrae

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This poem is very interesting for multiple reasons. First, it has an almost sarcastic tone, which is rare for McCrae’s poems, and because of this it flows extremely well to the end. I also am absolutely enthralled by the line, “We who are great in war be great in peace,” because going along with the sarcastic tone of the poem, this line has proven itself completely false many times. It seems like today peace doesn’t seem to produce much for any nation, and it is extremely short lived. The line, “No longer let us plead the cause by might,” is also extremely meaningful, and I wish that this was the way more of the world’s problems are solved.

Disarmament by John McCrae

One spake amid the nations, "Let us ceaseFrom darkening with strife the fair World's light,We who are great in war be great in peace.No longer let us plead the cause by might."

But from a million British graves took birthA silent voice -- the million spake as one --"If ye have righted all the wrongs of earthLay by the sword! Its work and ours is done."

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Mine Host by John McCrae

There stands a hostel by a travelled way;Life is the road and Death the worthy host;Each guest he greets, nor ever lacks to say,"How have ye fared?" They answer him, the most,"This lodging place is other than we sought;We had intended farther, but the gloomCame on apace, and found us ere we thought:Yet will we lodge. Thou hast abundant room."

Within sit haggard men that speak no word,No fire gleams their cheerful welcome shed;No voice of fellowship or strife is heardBut silence of a multitude of dead."Naught can I offer ye," quoth Death, "but rest!"And to his chamber leads each tired guest

Click for my inspired poem “It

matters not”

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It Matters Not by Nate Diemer

Life is the road and Death the worthy hostBut Death lacks much of anything to boastHe takes those who are weakAnd those who are oldAnd those who got hit by a car on the roadThose strong with faithThose that care about lifeHave nothing to fearOf his endless strifeHold strong in your heartDo not ever let him startFor his plan is intricateAnd elegant in designBut if you have willWit and strengthIt matters not How hard he has foughtTo take from youThat which you wrought

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The Anxious Dead by John McCrae

O guns, fall silent till the dead men hearAbove their heads the legions pressing on:(These fought their fight in time of bitter fear,And died not knowing how the day had gone.)

O flashing muzzles, pause, and let them seeThe coming dawn that streaks the sky afar;Then let your mighty chorus witness beTo them, and Caesar, that we still make war.

Tell them, O guns, that we have heard their call,That we have sworn, and will not turn aside,That we will onward till we win or fall,That we will keep the faith for which they died.

Bid them be patient, and some day, anon,They shall feel earth enwrapt in silence deep;Shall greet, in wonderment, the quiet dawn,And in content may turn them to their sleep.

Click for my inspired poem “A

Moment of Peace”

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A Moment of Peace by Nate Diemer

O guns fall silent till the dead men hearTheir friends and enemies stop in fearFor one brief moment in the gloomy nightAll men at once just stop the fightThey look left, right, and down belowThey see nothing but allies dead in the snowThey lay all day staring at the skyBut at only this moment do they catch your eyeA thing such as this can never lastAnd is broken so fast by a single blastBut moments like this of remembrance and careAre something so special and indeed very rare

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Innocence by Nate Diemer

We all thought life was going wellMore stories

More laughterThan I can tell

But in just a moment everything will changeEverything thought so perfect

Goes all down the drainYou’ll miss itYou’ll wish it

Back for one more dayBut it never comes backNo matter what you sayYour eyes torn wide open

Your views crushed and brokenThe utopia that was your world

Comes crashing downYou see the pain

Suffering And fear all around

Keep all your strength ready For this coming dayGrab all your beliefs

And just try to hold onTo the innocence of childhoodOr you won’t know it’s gone.

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Bemusing Dreams by Nate Diemer

Pursuing the glorious horse in the cliffs of HyacinthSkillfully riding a comet through the night sky

A grueling death match in a cool, clammy coliseumGlancing upon the immortal feast in chaotic allurement

Content sleeping gently in the tide foreverReconciling with the glorious voice

The fruits of your sleepWhen you awaken you long

For the world from which you were takenAnd you will never be mistakenThere is nothing more perfectThan these bemusing dreams

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http://www.essortment.com/john-mccrae-biography-20733.html http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/john_mccrae/biography

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http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/354049/John-McCraehttp://www.poemhunter.comhttp://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/3750026800_e87698ac8e.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/39980275%40N05/3750026800/&usg=__t_BOQfjUSedzKQGBAdAj-MIfweQ=&h=334&w=500&sz=95&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=4f9-FJLKjoOCoM:&tbnh=164&tbnw=219&ei=5CjATb-aOuHo0gGiksygBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3D3750026800_e87698ac8e%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D603%26bih%3D806%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=601&vpy=107&dur=4790&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=130&ty=116&page=1&ndsp=5&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/johnmccrae.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/category/exhibitions/to-flanders-fields-1917/page/4/&usg=__RF_UEy7Xtb1ghvxRxZDO0BgPFYs=&h=717&w=592&sz=77&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=Eo3PG2-SJlWVUM:&tbnh=168&tbnw=138&ei=JCnATYfPN-jn0QGCn8CtBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3DJohn%2BMcCrae%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=922&vpy=77&dur=570&hovh=247&hovw=204&tx=101&ty=134&page=1&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.glogster.com/media/3/12/5/59/12055912.jpg&imgrefurl=http://katherineschofield.glogster.com/ww1/&usg=__q3Tdo_hwmXKMIjYn-igZDuc9Lpk=&h=297&w=250&sz=22&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=ut9bkS06FfPYhM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=111&ei=8nTBTazNIKrc0QHkuvGyCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DWW1%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D839%26output%3Dimages_json%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=919&vpy=53&dur=843&hovh=237&hovw=200&tx=122&ty=110&page=1&ndsp=31&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0http://10.50.65.4:81/cgi/block.cgi?URL=http://www.flickr.com/photos/39980275@N05/3750026800/&IP=10.81.10.76&CAT=FLICKR&USER=IPGROUP&CE=0http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://tvwebcity.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/flanders-fields-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://tvwebcity.com/blog/2009/11/11/a-day-of-remembrance/&usg=__uazcctgC6fJNOAO_68pDwlccUYk=&h=469&w=472&sz=34&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=qDtCO9ueyvv6ZM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=128&ei=GHrBTeD6BuHt0gHCy4GzCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DFlanders%2Bfields%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=119&vpy=60&dur=9173&hovh=224&hovw=225&tx=99&ty=146&page=1&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/353250218_404318ff36.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/ennor/353250218/&usg=__dLpzEQkbqPUv-aoqZtlwk9LvJZY=&h=353&w=500&sz=179&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=ugCbU7yGnnsCrM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=164&ei=CHzBTbfjCOeV0QGTg4WzCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsunset%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=480&vpy=76&dur=2746&hovh=189&hovw=267&tx=121&ty=105&page=1&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0http://tinyurl.com/3hduj44http://tinyurl.com/3v6aexq

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