The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age

    A poem. Why? Why not?

    By Flavius on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 3:40am |

     

    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.



    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.

     

    "Lessons of the War" Henry Reed. Aug 1942 Newstatesman & Nation.An exceprt