News at Eleven: Within moments, John McCrae had completed

the "In Flanders Fields" poem and when he was done, without a word, McCrae took his mail and handed the poem to [Sergeant-Major Cyril] Allinson.

Allinson was deeply moved:

"The (Flanders Fields) poem was an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene."

from Allvoices: 'In Flanders Fields' Poem: What Inspired John McCrae to Write It?

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