PEACE POEM 4

I've debated whether to use this poem or a much shorter and simpler one by the same author called Playground , which you can find here, but I think a "long" poem this time won't hurt anyone. Please don't let this discourage you from reading it, it's really powerful. Although about the war in Vietnam, it can be applied to any war.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN BY ADRIAN MITCHELL

 

I was run over by the truth one day.
Ever since the accident I've walked this way
    So stick my legs in plaster
    Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Heard the alarm clock screaming with pain,
Couldn't find myself so I went back to sleep again
    So fill my ears with silver
    Stick my legs in plaster
    Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Every time I shut my eyes all I see is flames.
Made a marble phone book and I carved out all the names
    So coat my eyes with butter
    Fill my ears with silver
    Stick my legs in plaster
    Tell me lies about Vietnam.

I smell something burning, hope it's just my brains.
They're only dropping peppermints and daisy-chains
    So stuff my nose with garlic
    Coat my eyes with butter
    Fill my ears with silver
    Stick my legs in plaster
    Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Where were you at the time of the crime?
Down by the Cenotaph drinking slime
    So chain my tongue with whisky
    Stuff my nose with garlic
    Coat my eyes with butter
    Fill my ears with silver
    Stick my legs in plaster
    Tell me lies about Vietnam.

You put your bombers in, you put your conscience out,
You take the human being and you twist it all about
    So scrub my skin with women
    Chain my tongue with whisky
    Stuff my nose with garlic
    Coat my eyes with butter
    Fill my ears with silver
    Stick my legs in plaster
    Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Adrian Mitchell  (24 October 1932 – 20 December 2008) was an English poet, novelist and playwright.  For almost half a century he was the foremost poet of the country's anti-Bomb movement. In the following video you can see and hear him reading this same poem. This performance was filmed in London's Royal Albert Hall on June 11, 1965.: