A tanka for Memorial Day.

I haven't seen a WWII veteran selling red poppies in a very long time.
That makes me sad.
Every time I've ever seen someone selling them, I always bought two: one for me, and one for the memory of my beloved Pop-Pop who served in WWII.

In memoriam:
their flags still wave and snap proud
on the lush green hills
of the cemetery lawn.
Thank you, soldiers, all of you.

-- written on Memorial Day 2008.