"The Old Lie: Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori..."

[psalm_onethirtyone]

*clears throat*

e. e. cummings' war poetry.

i sing of olaf. This one always makes me start crying, because it's so horrible.

Look at what a pretty boy he was.

There was one I read a long time ago that I can't find anywhere, and all I remember was communists being killed in the street and how sad it was, and there was one about a boy coming home in a coffin, and why is none of this available on the internet? It's very important, and I want to find it; the book I had it from is at the library now.

There's this one.

I cannot find any more. But where is it?

Here is an essay, instead.

Thursday I'll go to the library and take out that book, I'll type some of them up. And now I am going to read Wilfred Owen, life be damned.

My own war poetry is not as powerful, because it is not as ugly, is not horrible. I can't do that. I want to find his, because his hurt. His made you stop.

Also, Spoon River Anthology:

Knowlt Hoheimer

I WAS the first fruits of the battle of Missionary Ridge.
When I felt the bullet enter my heart
I wished I had staid at home and gone to jail
For stealing the hogs of Curl Trenary,
Instead of running away and joining the army.
Rather a thousand times the county jail
Than to lie under this marble figure with wings,
And this granite pedestal Bearing the words, "Pro Patria."
What do they mean, anyway?

Comments

[rimusu.livejournal.com]

:( Thanks very much for posting those, & awaiting the ones from that book with interest. e.e. cummings is brilliant, and was such a pretty boy indeed.

Love that song, also.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. I think it very important people see. >_> I'm very surprised none of it is available.

He was very brilliant, and some of his work is just breath-taking. And then some is *waves hands*, but. still.

^^;; Eyes?

[sparklychibi.livejournal.com]

e. e. cummings is one of those people who looks like their writing.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

...Really? I'm always surprised upon seeing him. Just like T. S. Eliot. I expect them to look entirely different, really.

[sparklychibi.livejournal.com]

I think so, at least. As for T.S. Eliot, I was surprised when I first saw a picture of him, but now that I'm used to him I can see it, just a bit.

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

...True. There's a bit of his poetry in him, when you're used to it.

Eep! Oh, by the way--? Mum and I might get there to-morrow closer to around one--is that okay? I have to shop for Sewanee, and Tuesday's the only day we can. *wobbles*

[sparklychibi.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly.

Of course that's fine, my love. Actually, I remembered I have a violin lesson tomorrow, so you'll have to hang around my house for an hour (probably with earplugs) amusing yourself... so, you know, it's actually a bit of a relief, because this way I can ask a favor for a favor. :)

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

*is just generally unobservant, and actually looking for the first time, and... oh, look, you're right! :)*

Aha! Happy medium! *loves that phrase* ^___^ All is well, then, and I am so excited! *beamglomp*

[lunaedraconis.livejournal.com]

OMGANOTHERWWIWARPOETFANHUGS!

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

^^;; C'est moi. *pounces lightly*

[sansenmage.livejournal.com]

ohmigosh ee don't know nuthin bout capitalizashun

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

I take it you do not share a Soujin's love of cummings?

[julietveiled.livejournal.com]

Pro Patria... ooh, dear, good thing I didn't make that connection when I did Spoon River.

I'm madmadmad for the two that I did, when my acting class did it one year - Fiddler Green and Emily, which was a scene with this guy Luke, who was possibly the only decent boy actor in the class. Love. <333

[rainbowjehan.livejournal.com]

I didn't the very first time I read it, either--although I'd heard the expression far too many times to miss seeing it for long.

Oooh. I do terribly want to see it played. Also, decent boy actors? Miracles. Much love.