All those dogs of war have puppies
Puppies who scrabble Earth’s garden
Dig without thought amongst poppies
Poppies whose beauty must harden.
Delicate yellow, pale from Wales,
Gentle protection from lightning,
Mystical Himalayan blue,
Imagine those dreams that come true,
Scarlet from Ypres, those that we keep,
To honour those dead whilst we all weep,
Papaver black for objectors,
Who bravely stood proud against war,
White linen for peace and justice,
All of these seeds scratched to surface,
By puppies born from dogs of war,
Who don’t know what we’re fighting for.

Harry Rogers, in the Red Bedroom, 12th November 2022.