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Open Poetry #47
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Piccadilly, Not The Circus
| Open Poetry #47 |
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Piccadilly, Not The Circus |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
I will probobly be asked to move this to mature, but I hate to do that, as the poems there don't seem to be read much.I put it here because of the reality of its history, not as a means to arouse. If the moderaters don't like it here, please let me know. *************************************************** Too high to slap her ass before we climbed in Though we wanted to; the turret gunner Mangled beyond recognition last-mission Had looked up before entering his glass casket; Leering at her behind.. . He smiled then, but today he is faceless Having come back a lump of bloody leather And blue cloth woven into a grin, and frown; Blown away..expressions cannot be expressed- When stirred into a soup of hair, and bone shards... Like the war poet said, he . *"...woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose." . She brought most of us down from above the clouds; B-Seventeen's can take a hit, then belly skid-land After dropping fire and metal deliveries-on Jerry's in bullet plants who couldn't touch us, Though their Luftwaffe sometimes could, and did... . From up where mercury crowds the tubes bottom We sighted through that bare-assed angels halo; She was no innocent, after her virgin run Just a naked,decoy flying-frozen on the side of a B, Covering the ground with broken-hymen blood That fell through ice filled clouds-five miles up. . But she was the luck that returned us To whiskey dreams of wives, and other-lovers; . This moment she is sipping champagne Her engines revving up--untouched, alone; A woman waiting, on the tarmac for us Desiring our leers, although she knows We can not reach that high to touch. . *Randall Jarrell, from "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner " (see below) *************************************************** The crew of the Piccadilly Lilly, 1942 **************************************************** 'The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" by Randall Jarrell --Published 1945 [This message has been edited by Ron (07-26-2011 10:01 PM).] |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Ah, I'm glad you posed it here also, Ice. Otherwise I might not have got to read it. The guys who flew those B-17's were hero's of the first order. I loved this. Thank you for the post. ~ Money can't buy happiness, but broke can't buy anything. ~ |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Thank you, Jerry. I was hoping you would read this..and I got exactly the reply from you that I hoped for.. These guys were very brave..those B-17s flew up over 30,000 feet, and it was always below zero inside them..now that takes guts to do. |
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ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
WOW, Thank you for your poem. All our Men need to be appreciated and recognized. ebonygirl |
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Alison 
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Ford, This is riveting ~ and I think it is important. Good writing and great picture to go with the poem. Thank you. Alison |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Because of my husband's love of aviation and the fact that he flew C-130's in Viet Nam, we have attended many, many airshows over the years. I've been in a B-17. I remember it as a very confined aircraft and one shouldn't get into one if they suffer from claustrophobia at all. The men that flew them were a very special breed, indeed. Excellent writing, Ford. |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
EB... "Wow" is one word I always like to see in a reply. Thank You * Alison Another word that grabs my attention in a reply. As simple as the word "riveting" is, it means that the reader was stuck to the words..love it, and thank you. * Sunny Girl Glad we got this thing worked out..and I really don't mind your vigilance..actually I love it, as it means someone is paying attention to what is going on in here. And thank you for paying further attention to this poem in particular...love your reply. Come read to me some poem, Some simple and heartfelt lay, That shall soothe this restless feeling And banish the thoughts of day. Longfellow |
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Angel4aKing Senior Member
since 2006-09-27
Posts 1372USA |
WOW....very moving and insightful....it is a mature theme but I personally think it is fine in this forum.... ~~~kingsangel~~~ |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Thank you for posting this, ice. It makes me very sad and a little angry to know that many people today don't know a thing about WWII. I was born in 1944 and as young as I was in the years after the war I still remember the returning soldiers who were so happy to be home they used to give my brother and I candy and gun when we rode the street cars.I remember spending tme at the church while my mother worked on "Bundles for Britain" I am afraid we forget all too soon. Ida |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Angel The insight comes from the effect that the picture had on me, and also from my love of the old "war" poets.. Jarrell being close to the top of my favorites, although Owen and Sassoon..are right up there also. Thank you. * Ida I was also born in 1944, an early baby boomer..My father was with our troops in Germany, as well as most all my Uncles, In the war after the war that was supposed to end all wars. Perhaps you might write a poem about that era "Bundles for Britain" would make a good title. Thank you for the reply. Come read to me some poem, Some simple and heartfelt lay, That shall soothe this restless feeling And banish the thoughts of day. Longfellow |
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