Premonition
The swagger-boys
came at nine
to set back time;
forgot the tics.
They shaved my head
with Occam's razor;
forgot the brain
burned down my house
forgot the windows
confiscated bullets
forgot the gun.
At last they showed the knife
and took my legs;
forgot the heartbeat
that let me crawl away
on love alone.
~February 2017
" [Hitler] has grasped the falsity of the hedonistic
attitude to life. Nearly all western thought since the last war, certainly all 'progressive' thought, has assumed tacitly that human beings desire
nothing beyond ease, security, and avoidance of pain. In such a view of life
there is no room, for instance, for patriotism and the military virtues. ..All
three of the great dictators have enhanced their power by imposing intolerable
burdens on their peoples. Whereas Socialism, and even capitalism in a grudging
way, have said to people 'I offer you a good time,' Hitler has said to them 'I offer you struggle, danger and death,' and as a result a whole
nation flings itself at his feet."
~George Orwell, from
a review of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf, New English Weekly (21 March 1940) via wikiquote
Flash 55 at real toads
[Plus~ 1984 ]
Image: Premonition of Civil War, 1936 © Salvador Dali
Love alone... but even love, in the end. Nice to read you, Hedgewitch :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a chilling read, Joy. One hopes... one clings to belief... One prays that love alone will be enough.
ReplyDeleteSuch a stirring piece, and Orwell's words tightened the noose.
At last they showed the knife
ReplyDeleteand took my legs;
forgot the heartbeat
that let me crawl away
on love alone.
My goodness!! I held my breath as I read these lines!!
"......that let me crawl away on love alone." Fantarctic, Joy. The Orwell quote is sobering.
ReplyDeletewho was it that said the opposite of love isn't hate, but indifference?
ReplyDeletewhat a perfect quote from Orwell.
and yes, love . Funny, seems to be many (me too) writing of love, now. since we must. ~
Love is a great cure.
ReplyDeleteDid I know you had posted this? I suppose probably did, please forgive my sickie brain fog. I love the construction of this poem, with the taking but forgetting throughout. Occam's razor is a sly touch ("forgot the brain" !) and works perfectly here. Chilling, grim, but skillfully done, Joy.
ReplyDeleteAs long as our heart's beating, we aren't dead yet. If they take our legs, we'll crawl and bite. If they take our teeth... well, let's hope we don't get that far.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of your poem made me think of A Clockwork Orange. Maybe because of the "swagger-boys"... perhaps because of the ending note/quote.
...now imaginations are set free in this maze of yours...
ReplyDeleteWicked brew here, Hedge, a burning wicker man in which we ululate for wicked fate ... And what is worst is the half-assed manner in which the outrage occurs, not even any thoughful premeditation to what is being tortured to death. Just hammer, sickle, tweets. And falling, asswise & aswoon, into the raging flame ... The image, poem and quote wind it thrice mighty. Hard rain's a-falling.
ReplyDeleteThis is brutal. Hopefully love is enough.
ReplyDeleteI'm in yr posts, readin' 'em again. ;-)
ReplyDeleteApparently I was sick when you posted this, but have a clear head this time and this smacked me right upside of it. First, I love the "swagger-boys". That's the kind of thing you are so good at, finding fresh ways to say things. Then, Occam's razor. I love your used of that here. The rest of this piece is gruesome and wild and absolutely striking, Joy. So well done.