Corn Poppies Poem by Mary Champion

Grain and poppy intertwine to symbolise
Demeter, the goddess of fertility,
she, who when the full moon lights the skies,
will feed the soil, restore its viability.

But when the goddess, weary from her labours,
seeks the arms of sleep, she turns to you.
It's you whose soporific draught she savours,
awakes refreshed, to start each day anew.

Beloved Mecon died and left her mourning,
a rich red poppy rose up in his stead.
It's you who deck the handmaids of Demeter -
bright garlands decorate each holy head.

Scarlet poppy, blooming ‘midst the golden corn,
your fleeting beauty fallen by the morrow's dawn.