During our trip along World War I monuments in the area of Ieper in Belgium, we visit the Death Walks in Diksmuide. Here are the trenches used in the lines along the river IJzer. Many poppies now grow on the trenches.
The massive growth of poppies on battlefields has everything to do with the destruction of those fields. Because of the many grenades, the fields are in fact thrown over and contaminated. A poppy is a pioneer plant, which means that it will be the first to grow on a freshly polluted or polluted, poor soil where other plants will have a harder time. When a field is dug up by a farmer or a grenade, the seeds that have been in the ground for years will come up, resulting in one beautiful large poppy glow.
The flower therefore remains a beautiful symbol for the power and beauty that can grow from complete destruction.
@gijsje Ja dat is het gedicht "in Flander fields" van de legerarts John Mc Crea van de geallieerden. We hebben de bunker aan de IJzer gezien waar hij zijn werk deed.
