Monday, March 19, 2012

USA 2012. Pablo Neruda, Spain 1936.

Recent news.
NATO-led forces in Afghanistan said on Monday they had mistakenly killed a group of children in an air strike that has enraged the government, and said their deaths may have been linked to an anti-insurgent operation in the area.
Part of Neruda's poem, "I'll Explain Some Things" 
(Read it all at the title link) 
You’ll ask, Where are the lilacs? 
And the philosophy dreamy with poppies? 
And the rain which kept beating out 
Your words, filling them 
With water-specks and birds??
 I’m going to tell you everything that happened to me ... 

Then one morning flames 
Came out of the ground 
Devouring human beings. 
From then on fire, 
Gunpowder from then on, 
From then on blood. 
Bandits with airplanes and Moorish troops 
Bandits with gold rings and duchesses 
Bandits with black monks giving their blessing 
Came across the sky to kill children 
And through the streets, the blood of children 
Ran simply, like children’s blood does...  
Are we stupid or evil or insane, humanity?

Once upon a time...