POEM OF THE DAY

Poppy Fields

IN the centenary year of the end of WW1 it was amazing to read the story of Margaret Smith who lost five of her six sons in the conflict.

The family from Barnard Castle were visited by the local vicar’s wife who wrote a letter to Queen Mary to tell the heartrending story to try and save her sixth son who was in the trenches. Within days of receiving the letter Queen Mary had Margaret’s surviving son brought back to Barnard Castle. Wilfred kept the family name alive because of this act. And lived to the age of 69.

Thanks to the actions of the vicar’s wife Mrs Mary Bircham this family is thriving. One of the most uplifting stories of this terrible conflict.

BRENDAN MCDERMOTT Deep as the blood that soldiers’ bled

Crimson petals blow, Amidst howling winds and cries of death, pain and fear no soul should know. The dripping tears of those who lie beneath this bloodied ground, with silent thought and tormented minds, trapped by darkness all around. Each seed that’s sown begins to heal, sleeping souls of boys and men who marched away, who fought and died, upon sodden earth they fell.

As rays of light break through the IT just goes to show how a true blue Tory mind works when on PMQs, Conservative MP Richard Graham boasted about the fact that a new Centre for clouds, onto fields where poppies grow, angels call with open arms, to souls found, it’s time to go. Fresh petals burst and free those souls, dark eyes searching above, sweet singing leads them to a place of beauty, worth and love. Then looking down on crimson fields, at poppies blowing free, upon souls whose time it will be soon, when the next poppy bursts, You’ll see. Christine E Irving

the Homeless had opened in his constituency.

No doubt he will be hoping that this is just the first of many and will show that Tory policies are working just as planned. AW, Gosforth