From an interesting article on the early years of John Kerry in Time magazine comes this 1962 poem on France’s President Charles de Gaulle, and the decline of the French empire.
The fifth Republic stands weak
and dismayed
By her failure; she lives devoid of
love
Except by the men whose debt has
been paid …”
The poem ends:
Beyond all terror, destiny in hand,
Over rack and ruin, over black peaks
Of rebellion, blood and communist
brand,
Rules a man whom no Algerian dares
Blaspheme or murder – except in his
prayers.Time calls it “at once pretentious and subtle.”
In case it’s not blaringly obvious I don’t really think Kerry called for the assasination of anyone. The headline is supposed to be ironic and juxtapose the past and present…
All kidding aside, the article is well worth a read.
Update: Feel free to try your hand at a Time style review (i.e. “at once _____ and ______.”) in the comment section.
I’m off topic here I know but I am looking for a guest/partner for my blog. Please let me know if you have any tips and if anyone here is interested let me know as well.
At once craptacular and nuanced. And also, puke.
Kerry called for the assassination of Charles De Gaulle? I might have to reconsider my opposition to Kerry…
Of course, he later argued against killing De Gaulle…
J.
Thing is, when it’s Kerry, that “at once _______ and _______” shtick isn’t even ironic.
No kidding, Jay. DeGaulle was a man seriously in need of killing.
At once housebroken and pissing all over the carpet.
At once rich and only rich because he married a ketchup heiress.
At once animated and not…animated.
At once married and gay lover to John Edwards.
At once pretentious and …… who the fuck writes poems about Communist dictators in Algeria? What a wierd college student. I bet you the Skull and Bones boys gave him extreme daily wedgies.