我又遇见了花海!
大片大片的红,夹杂着点点的紫,像坠落田间的虹彩,为沉郁的雨后黄昏驱走了阴霾。
这一次我远远就认出来了, 是罂粟花(Poppy flower)! 刚经历了场风雨的它虽略显窘态,但天生丽质难自弃,风韵犹存。
罂粟花每年总尾随着蒲公英的脚步翩然而至,大约五月中旬就开始看见它的身影了,伫立在行人道旁,夹杂在麦田,在草丛,在荒野里。它外柔内刚,薄如轻纱的花瓣,瘦削修长的身子看似弱不禁风,不堪一击,实则坚韧无比。
它是纪念阵亡将士之花(注1),也是提炼鸦片之花(注2)。这么一大片的罂粟花该不会是有心人为了悼念战亡将士而种下的吧?
紫色罂粟花(opium poppy)果实中的乳汁可提炼鸦片。
注1:参与第一次世界大战的加拿大军医John Mc Crae在悼念战友的诗歌---- ln Flanders Fields(佛蓝德斯战场)里,把前线战士卑贱的命运与开满遍野的罂粟花连接在一起,触动了人心。自此人们把罂粟花当作纪念阵亡将士之花。每一年11月11日的第一次世界大战纪念日,大家都会在胸前别上一朵纸制的罂粟花以示悼念。
ln Flanders Fields(佛蓝德斯战场)
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.
注2:鸦片由罂粟花的汁液制成。