Real poppies don’t burn

Teenager arrested for posting burning poppy picture on Facebook

The Guardian, 12 November 2012

Because real poppies don't burn

fetch me a plastic and paper one

and a match, and together we can inflame

some indignation, strike out for freedom

of speech. For kindling we can use

old images of the Princess of Wales

and the stalwart Winston Churchill,

torn up, twisted, sweetly combustible.

For good measure hurl on some holy books

and anything wooden resembling a cross,

and flags—flags make good fuel too—

crosses, stars or stripes would do

just fine, and anything emblazoned

with a dragon is begging to get burned.

Toss on that poppy of blood red paper,

douse with gin and apply a lit taper

low down for a slow burn and added offence.

Observe for one minute it kindle in silence.

And because no one troubles

to censor or censure a poet, from the ashes

an inextinguishable image will rise

of the puerile act of burning poppies.

(c) 2012 Slush Poet