Remembrance Day Poems and Readings
Guideline for Remembrance Sunday Readings Including WW1 Poems
Nov 2, 2009
It can be hard knowing what poem to choose for a reading on Remembrance Day, Veteran's Day or whatever term you use to describe November 11. As with any serious formal occasion, the guideline is that the poem be suitable. Unlike a reading for a wedding, finding a poem to read at Remembrance Day is considerably more sensitive. You will be choosing something to remember people who gave their lives for their country, so rather than opting for a reading that could seem trivial, traditional readings are always best. Lines written by modern poets could seem trite so opting for a reading by a WW1 contemporary poet is a good bet. Here are some of the Remembrance readings that sound best aloud.
In Flanders Fields, The Most Famous WW1 poem
Beginning with the famous lines "In Flanders Fields the poppies blow", this is the poem most associated with Remembrance Day. It was written by Canadian doctor Lt. Colonel John McCrae during WW1. It's powerful, moving and captures the contrast between the rows of graves solemnly marking the dead and the brightness of the poppies that continued to grow in the battlefields throughout the Great War.
We Will Keep the Faith
American poet Moira Michael penned this poem in response to McCrae's poem. It's another beautiful, moving poem which promises to remember the dead of the War by wearing a poppy:
"And now the torch and poppy red
Wear in honour of our dead."
The First Two Minute Silence in London
Another moving reading would be a reading of the Manchester Guardian's report on the very first Two Minute Silence in London. You may be able to access newspaper reports on other Two Minute Silences around the world, but this is generally considered to be the best account of the first 1921 Remembrance Day.
Anthem for a Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen
WW1 poet Wilfred Owen, who fought and died in the trenches, wrote many poems on the horror of war and this is generally considered to be one of his most evocative. It is considered particularly poignant for its cadence: the endings of each line do not rhyme, thought to echo the discordance of war. It's only fourteen lines long and so is good for a short Remembrance Day poem.
Poem for the Fallen by Laurence Binyon
This poem is commonly used in Remembrance readings, containing the famous lines:
"They shall not grow old as we will grow old
Age shall not weary them; nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
For information on how to make Remembrance Day or Veteran's Day memorable for children click here
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