O Communards! (An Anthem)

See our red flag wave, Parisians,
Never let it fall!
The enemies are at our gates
And just beyond our wall.
Take up arms, all friends who may,
Build the barricades high,
For now we fight for liberty,
A worthy way to die!

Chorus:
Rise up, rise up, O Communards,
To God ye need not pray,
For we are masters of our fates
And that begins today!
Whatever shall those fates demand
The whole world soon will see,
O Communards, O Communards,
A France forever free! 

No Prussian, Bourbon, Bonaparte
Shall evermore rule here,
Nor all the devils of Versailles 
Or their master Thiers!
We took the cannons of Monmartre,
We fell'd the damned Vendome,
The gentry fled out to the west,
All Paris is our home!

Chorus

The Common Man shall now prevail
With Woman by his side,
And win the kiss of Liberty
As they duel an evil tide.
So join us all in righteous battle 
'Til such battling cease 
And then we'll see thro' darksome days
A Paris cloaked in peace!

Chorus


Dedicated to all who perished, whether Communard or no, 
during "Bloody Week" - May 21 to 28, 1871
        


DB/1.2018

 

Trifle

Benedick (looking out): 'Pon my soul, good Areolia, here glideth down the season's first snow flakes. Ah, Winter, thou cruel tyrant! That thy little army could'st fall so peacefully yet conquer so heavily and without mercy in such a short span of time confounds me! Thou despoils the despoilt countree-side with thy chill, blinding monochromaticity! And yet I despise thee not. Yes, Areolia, I will say as much. Winter, thou mercilessly makest a man shut himself indoors to 'gainst thy cold cruelty, but only to enjoy his fire, chair, pipe, brandy and wench (ogling Areolia) all the more. Ah, well, then, so be it! Pax in terra!
                                             - fragment from Hermetaecia (1793), Act III, Scene I
                                              by Edward Charles Wheybourne (1770-1832)


DB/c2004

We Are Not Men

we are
not men,
nor yet
not gods,
salt of
the earth,
better than
you clods

our women
are akin
to earth's
other races,
they all
just need
to know
their places

we strive
to build
a new
feudal age,
we heard
that once
was all
the rage

just rich,
just poor,
no damned
in-between,
our cruelty
is kindness,
know what
we mean?

many things
you have
the government
will give,
we think
you don't
need them
to live

our health
care is
the best,
no lie,
if you
don't agree
feel free
to die

the earth,
the air,
the wind,
and fire,
to end
these things
and more
we desire

there may
be strife
with us,
it's true,
but we
are still
more mighty
than you

so protest
your little
hearts out,
my dears,
we'll just
pretend that
you are
not here

we are
the gods,
Mammon is
our king,
and you
tiny folk
don't mean
a thing


DB/1.2018


Music: 'Don't Drink the Water' by The Dave Matthews Band