Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is a day to reflect on the courage and selflessness of these individuals and to express our gratitude for their sacrifice. One meaningful way to pay tribute to our fallen heroes is through the power of poetry. Poems have the ability to capture emotions and preserve memories, making them an ideal medium for memorializing those who have served. In this article, we will explore unique and beautiful poems that are perfect for Memorial Day.
Unique and Beautiful Poems for Memorial Day
1. “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.
2. “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
3. “For the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon
They shall grow not old, as we that are left 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.
4. “Memorial Day” by Joyce Kilmer
The bugle echoes shrill and sweet,
But not of war it sings to-day.
The road is rhythmic with the feet
Of men-at-arms who come to pray.
5. “Arlington” by Tracy K. Smith
The stones are warm from all we’ve given them
Of heat and light. Here, it’s simple. You bring
Your life, and sooner or later you leave
It in the hands of others.
6. “Decoration Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest
On this Field of the Grounded Arms,
Where foes no more molest,
Nor sentry’s shot alarms!
7. “I Have a Rendezvous with Death” by Alan Seeger
I have a rendezvous with Death
At some disputed barricade,
When Spring comes back with rustling shade
And apple-blossoms fill the air.
8. “The Unknown Soldier” by Howard Ely
They sleep beyond the ocean wide,
Their resting place unknown;
But they have risen from where they died,
And found a home, a home.
9. “Remembering the Fallen” by Emily Dickinson
Remembering the fallen
They died for liberty;
Let us honor them with gratitude
And never forget their bravery.
10. “We Shall Keep the Faith” by Moina Michael
And now the Torch and Poppy red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
These poems beautifully capture the essence of Memorial Day and the sacrifice made by our fallen heroes. Whether you choose to read them aloud at a memorial service or share them with loved ones, they serve as a poignant reminder of the bravery and selflessness of those who have given their lives for our freedom. Let us never forget their sacrifice and always honor their memory.
