Peace

[charlabob]

Maya Angelou made reference to this poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay on NPR this morning. Here it is, in its entirety. Some things were said better long ago:

“Conscientious Objector”

1934

I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death.

I hear him leading his horse out of the stall; I hear the clatter on the barn-floor.

He is in haste; he has business in Cuba, business in the Balkans, many calls to make this morning.

But I will not hold the bridle while he cinches the girth.

And he may mount by himself: I will not give him a leg up.

Though he flick my shoulders with his whip, I will not tell him which way the fox ran.

With his hoof on my breast, I will not tell him where the black boy hides in the swamp.

I shall die, but this is all that I shall do for Death; I am not on his pay-roll.

I will not tell him the whereabouts of my friends nor of my enemies either.

Though he promise me much, I will not map him the

route to any man’s door.

Am I a spy in the land of living, that I should deliver men to Death?

Brother, the password and the plans of our city are safe with me; never through me

Shall you be overcome

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[JanS]

Thank you, Charla….two of my very favorite poets…

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[charlabob]

I’m ashamed to say this is the first time I’ve actually read ESVM (in my college courses, she was dismissed as an eccentric recluse…odd, since it was the height of the antiVietnamwar period.)

I’ve just ordered three of her books from the library.

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[Erik]

charla – thanks!

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[JoB]

Isn’t she wonderful…

i am not sure she isn’t still often dismissed as just an eccentric recluse by academia…

at least her books are more available now than they were then.

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