Poem by Nick Short.

It was on the Day of Remembrance
And sad thoughts came with the dawning.
For there amongst the silent crowd
On that cold November morning
Was the Lassie in the Cloak of Poppy-Red.

In the circle around the memorial
The people had gathered in reverence
For the arrival of the marching military
And the clergy at their clerical pace
For the Lassie in the Cloak of Poppy-Red.

The staccato notes of the Last Post
Were sounded by the bugle call.
Standards and banners were dipped
And the Silence was there for all
And the Lassie in the Cloak of Poppy-Red.

Reveille raised the standards and banners
And for the fallen the wreaths were laid.
Northumbrian pipes were lamenting
For the sacrifice they had made
For the Lassie in the Cloak of Poppy-Red.

The Prayers, Hymns and the Blessing
Were followed by the National Anthem
Sung by the gathered hundreds
And ended with a poignant 'Amen'
By the Lassie in the Cloak of Poppy-Red.

Leaving the fallen to silence and peace
The clergy slowly leading the way,
We marched off for the Abbey service
And leaving last on Remembrance Day
Was the Lassie in the Cloak of Poppy-Red.

This is the English translation of a poem in Northumbrian dialect which Nick Short wrote for entry into the competition at the Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering for 2011.