on conscientious objectors...e.e.cummings:

SixofNine

i sing of Olaf glad and big
whose warmest heart recoiled at war:
a conscientious object-or

his wellbelove'd colonel(trig
westpointer most succinctly bred)
took erring Olaf soon in hand;
but--though an host of overjoyed
noncoms(first knocking on the head
him)do through icy waters roll
that helplessness which others stroke
with brushes recently employed
anent this muddy toiletbowl,
while kindred intellects evoke
allegiance per blunt instruments--
Olaf(being to all intents
a corpse and wanting any rag
upon what God unto him gave)
responds, without getting annoyed
"I will not kiss your fucking flag"

straightway the silver bird looked grave
(departing hurriedly to shave)

but--though all kinds of officers
(a yearning nation's blueeyed pride)
their passive prey did kick and curse
until for wear their clarion
voices and boots were much the worse,
and egged the firstclassprivates on
his rectum wickedly to tease
by means of skilfully applied
bayonets roasted hot with heat--
Olaf(upon what were once knees)
does almost ceaslessly repeat
"there is some shit I will not eat"

our president,being of which
assertions duly notified
threw the yellowsonofabitch
into a dungeon,where he died

Christ(of His mercy infinite)
i pray to see;and Olaf,too

preponderatingly because
unless statistics lie he was
more brave than me:more blond than you.

hillary_step

Six, A wonderful piece of writing as ever from Cummings. I have most of his work in the 1st editions that I have collected over the years. Thank you for this. On another note, and speaking of great writers, Arthur Lee died recently. Now he thinks he is happy, and he is happy, that is what he is happy for. HS

SixofNine

You're welcome Hillary. A damn powerful piece of writing I thought.

Was this the LoveLee Arthur Lee who influenced the dude in my avatar?

purplesofa

Thanks

purps

hillary_step

lol....Six,

Was this the LoveLee Arthur Lee who influenced the dude in my avatar?

Yup, the very same. I missed that avatar, my apologies. I met Arthur one wild summer in SF in the late 60's. I was just an 'English' kid with half a pen and he was good to me. I was introduced to him my a mutual friend, a songwriter in NY , and she advised, 'Do not be taken in by his moments of sanity, you will regret it'....lol

If there is a heaven I suspect that Arthur is there, swearing at the angels for plaigerizing his lyrics.

HS

hemp lover

Bloody brilliant...never read that one before.

Farkel

e.e. cummings was a minimlst (sic)

I never trust anyone who is afraid to use capital letters.

Farkel, off to re-read "The Leaves of Grass" and try to find out why rolling around naked is fun.......

SixofNine

tttttwolips

SixofNine

Will, you do the fandango

so well, tied up and twisted

the way a warden wants

on conscientious objectors...e.e.cummings:

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