Juvenile Nonfiction

ever seen this poem?.

December 18th. 2006.
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Lessons of the war

To Alan Michell

Vixi duellis nuper idoneus
Et militavi non sine gloria

I. Naming of parts

To-day we have naming of parts. Yesterday,
We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But to-day,
To-day we have naming of parts. Japonica
Glistens like coral in all of the neighboring gardens,
     And to-day we have naming of parts.

This is the lower sling swivel. And this
Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see,
When you are given your slings. And this is the piling swivel,
Which in your case you have not got. The branches
Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,
     Which in our case we have not got.

This is the safety-catch, which is always released
With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me
See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy
If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms
Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see
     Any of them using their finger.

And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this
Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it
Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this
Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards
The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers:
     They call it easing the Spring.

They call it easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy
If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt,
And the breech, and the cocking-piece, and the point of balance,
Which in our case we have not got; and the almond-blossom
Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards,
     For to-day we have naming of parts.

(Reed, Henry. “Naming of Parts.” New Statesman and Nation 24, no. 598 (8 August 1942): 92.)

It is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot.

  • Was first introduced to that work almost 15 years ago now. Thanks for reminder. Somehow I always find myself appreciating that poetry which I’ve studied and cherished more than that which I haven’t. There’s something about a well-worn and familiar poem that the green stuff just cannot usually match. For example: Invictus, The Charge of the Light Brigade, anyone lived in a pretty how town, Red Wheelbarrow, etc.

    devan. December 20th. 2006. 10:43 am.

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