Brain Teasers
Guerin Remembers
Riddle
Riddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.Riddle
In Flanders fields, where once was blood,
From battles for so few yards of mud,
I woke from such slumber deep,
And mocked the blood the havoc wreaked.
But now I show our future hope,
And enable veterans to cope,
By provoking memories of blood,
Before new battlefields can flood.
What am I?
From battles for so few yards of mud,
I woke from such slumber deep,
And mocked the blood the havoc wreaked.
But now I show our future hope,
And enable veterans to cope,
By provoking memories of blood,
Before new battlefields can flood.
What am I?
Answer
The poppy.The poppy became a symbol of remembrance for the victims of war. This is due to the war poem 'In Flanders Fields', written in 1915 by John McCrae, a Canadian military physician, (the title of which is mentioned in the first line of the teaser).
Poppy seeds can lay dormant, deep in the soil for hundreds of years, but the violent shelling, on the Western Front during the First World War, would have unearthed them. This led to the blood and bodies being watched over by tall red flowers, dancing in the wind.
The artificial poppies sold today, to raise money for war veterans, were the idea of Madame Guerin, a Frenchwoman, mentioned in the title. Other colours of poppy are now sold as well as the original red, normally as a statement of peaceful resolution to conflict. However, it is predominantly Madame Guerin's poppy seen across much of the World and in military cemeteries.
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Comments
Very nicely done. Most of us have veterans in our families, so it was heart-warming to have this remembrance of them. Thank you.
Great teaser, very nicely done
NICE ONE
kind of hard but fun.
I thought it was simple. Mainly because Flanders Field is taught every year at our school... good poem.
Two thumbs WAY up!
nice job!
Very politely said! 2 thumbs up from this absent-minded character.
Yet another awesome teaser by FreddyPharkas the teaser mastermind! Great job, FP. Although it was kinda easy as I live in New Zealand (ANZAC).
Thanks everyone, glad you liked it.
very educational.
Freddy, I really liked the poem; did you write it?
Mosca, a veteran
Mosca, a veteran
Apart from the start, it's mine. Thanks!!
I guessed white crosses from the ones that adorn all the graves there of fallen soldiers. I didn't remember the poem In Flanders Field in detail or I'd have known the answer was the poppy. My father was older than most and was actually in WW I in Europe.
Thank you, thank a vet. Besides the American Military I can only think of one other person willing to die for you.
Very well-written riddle on a great topic.
I had no trouble with this because just two weeks ago I wrote a Braingle Trivia Quiz on the poem, "In Flanders Fields". In Canada we hear the poem every year for Remembrance Day ceremonies.
I had no trouble with this because just two weeks ago I wrote a Braingle Trivia Quiz on the poem, "In Flanders Fields". In Canada we hear the poem every year for Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Nice poem Freddy. Very nice teaser. Like many of the others,I got it immediately. Thank you so much for posting.
As a veteran it came to me right away.Well written.Thank you.
I vaguely remembered the poem, and forgot about the poppies.
Very nice. Didn't really understand about the poppies significance. Thanks!
Very nice. Didn't really understand about the poppies significance. Thanks!
I didn't get it right, but I felt really dumb when I read the answer. My school choir sang "In Flander's Fields" (which I'm guessing is the poem put to music...) last year. It was a beautiful song, and I can't believe I didn't think of the poppy. The first verse of the song, "In Flander's field the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row..." Thanks you for bringing back some memories. Great riddle!
Thank you for a great teaser.
Easy if you know the poem; I always get a poppy when I see the veterans!
Easy if you know the poem; I always get a poppy when I see the veterans!
Although this is AROB, I still appreciate the thought that went into this teaser.
And a hello to auntiesis and GnMi
I guessed monument/memorial, mainly because I never encountered the poem in school.
In fact, I was going to get nitpicky and suggest the line should have the possesive quality Flanders' fields or the adjective quality Flemish fields, but I can't really pick apart a literary classic for technical grammar issues, can I?
In fact, I was going to get nitpicky and suggest the line should have the possesive quality Flanders' fields or the adjective quality Flemish fields, but I can't really pick apart a literary classic for technical grammar issues, can I?
Good riddle and brought back a lot of memories to many of us! I remember learning this poem back in elementary school and I loved it. Waving a poppy and sending heartfelt thanks to all our vets and the men and women serving our country now! Many nice, positive comments today!
This is lovely! Thank you!
I knew it was related to WWI, but didn't get it. Thank you. I learned something today.
I thought this was well thought out and well written. One of the better teasers
Easy!
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
As with many others, I got this right away, again because we had to learn it as far back as Kindergarten and recite it every November 11 for our entire school careers Not to mention that as a former "base brat" I go to the Cenotaph in town on all memorial occasions (Remembrance Day, VE day, D-Day, etc) so hear it quite often. Have never heard it sung though.
I knew this one right off, but then at my age (never you mind but plenty old enough) I was familiar with the poem, its meaning, and I have a multitude of poppies from brand new bought this Memorial Day to old ones, barely recognizable, from years past. Nice way to bring it to the attention of a younger generation - I salute you! ;-)
omg all that war stuff is just sad but that poopy thing is pretty cool
srry i meant poppy i misspelled it wrong cuz i wuz thinking of sum1 else (not a boyfriend, mind you!)
Also easy for me as I am well versed on the poem and I write poetry myself. I have won awards, and been published in home town magazines.
I do want to say to Habs that she or he is an inspiration to me after reading the comment about the percentage of lost sight and how you carried on. Thank you! What a great person you are
By the way...Good teaser too!
I do want to say to Habs that she or he is an inspiration to me after reading the comment about the percentage of lost sight and how you carried on. Thank you! What a great person you are
By the way...Good teaser too!
As commented above, as a Canadian, we learn the poem very early. The mere mention of Flanders Field instantly made me think of poppies.
Thanks Babe. I just figured I had two choices: sit on government assistance feeling sorry for myself, or get up brush myself off, and carry on.
Nothing would change the I can no longer see well so why not accept it and get on with life.
Thanks Babe. I just figured I had two choices: sit on government assistance feeling sorry for myself, or get up brush myself off, and carry on.
Nothing would change the I can no longer see well so why not accept it and get on with life.
He will render judgment among the nations
And set matters straight respecting many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning shears.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
Nor will they learn war anymore.
~Isaiah 2:4
And set matters straight respecting many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning shears.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
Nor will they learn war anymore.
~Isaiah 2:4
This was well written. It was easy for me though.
As HABS said, the mere mention of Flanders Field made me think of poppies! I always loved the special holidays where we remembered our service men and women and our veterans. Thanks for posting!
This was pretty easy, but I found it beautifully written and very respectful of those who lost their lives on the battlefield.
I loved reading this once again, and oh what nice school memories it brings back. It also makes me kind of teary, as I have lived through the big war, as it is called, but I think all wars are too big, and senseless. Thanks for the memories. Nice teaser!
Beautifully written and wonderful to learn about. I immediately though of flowers, but couldn't remember which one.
Excellent teaser. God Bless our service men and women and veterans. Daughter of WWII & Korean War Veteran and wife of Vietnam Veteran ( 4 Purple Hearts). I love these teasers that teach us something about our history. They are excellent for the whole family.
I had no idea on this teaser but it was very interesting to learn this about Poppy fields.
I am the daughter of a WWII veteran. I got this one fairly quickly, with the references to Flanders Field and veterans. I enjoyed the explanation of the meaning behind the poppy. It was fascinating and informative, and I learned something new today.
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