Primarily, the poem “Poppies,” by Jane Weir, depicts a mother remembering her son killed in battle. There is the use of a non-chronological structure and the use of past and present tenses: "after you left... that's where it led me." This non-chronological structure which constantly shifts from past to present symbolizes the way in which the poet remembers past events during her son's lifetime. The poem moves from her last memory of her son to visiting the war memorial. Even in this memory, she recalls moments from her childhood, buoyed by “playing Eskimos like we did when you were little.” Furthermore, the shift in time reflects the different ways in which the mother remembers and mourns her lost son. Additionally, first and second person pronouns, such as “you” and “me,” convey how the speaker is trying to connect with her lost son. The speaker therefore addresses her son directly and, in doing so, keeps his memory alive. Subsequently, the language of the poem reflects that of military usage: "reinforcements" and "disruptive blockade" represent the conflict and, furthermore, colorful and textured images. evokes in the reader a deeper understanding of the destructive nature of war; “curled petals,” “yellow bias,” and “spasms of red paper” support the colorful imagery used by the poet. The metaphors used by the speaker also show how the mother cannot escape the awareness of her son's violent death: the “spasms” and “bandages” suggest that the son's death was extremely cruel and brutal. The speaker's memories allow her to maintain a connection with her son, but she cannot avoid thinking about injuries and death. The use of color and texture...... middle of paper ...... g across and enjambment on the first three lines signifies this breakthrough and flow of raw emotion. Finally, the link to Armistice Sunday shows how long poppies have been a symbol of remembrance "three days before Armistice Sunday". For almost a century, they have served as a memorial to our fallen in combat. This suggests a hint of regret and sadness as there are still young men making this ultimate sacrifice for their country. The theme of bravery relates to those who fight for their country but also to those who are left behind while waiting for loved ones to return or dealing with loss. The sad tone is emphasized in the final stanza, as it reminds the reader that there are many names inscribed on war memorials across the country: "I traced the inscriptions on the war memorial" suggests that in indeed, the speaker's son is only one among many who died.