Papaver Somniferum Poem by Res John Burman

Ah Papaver Somniferum,
The fumes of long gone dreams,
A pipe or two, and dreams of you,
Are never what it seems!

This Blessed Balm from Heaven
Will sooth all kinds of pain,
But sad to say, at the end of day,
The pain doubles back again.

Better, Soldier on Regardless,
Than to take the easy way,
But those dreams of yore, when you're feelin' sore,
Will always make you pay.

So like Old 'Tommy living cleanly'
Ignoring the horror of my fall,
Now when I'm in pain, I say once again,
I ONLY DREAM of Poppies growing tall.

(10th February 2008)