Sans Encore

[hack]

A hero, fearful and drunken before all
Bitter loser who means to meet the dream a Sun King
A summer tough, prisoner of a life smoking hot
Shouting out "But quick, toss a coin"
Emptying the City of Man
Crying out, palm up, to a horrified exiting crowd

footlights fade to black
I know how John Wilkes Booth felt
aching for that bow

No oration in the Wilderness
You drew no fire at Chancellorsville
Only preening on a stage
And when the cause was lost
Sweeping in like a jackal
To seize treacherous petty fame
Did you upstage Edwin at long last?
Hack, Coward, Disgrace

[Bar22do]

I do not understand all the references here, but recognize a tone of anger and even despise... I feel something strong and bitter and really very dark... why? and why 'hack - coward - disgrace"? (well, still, you conveyed, at least to me, a world of emotion, thank you hack)

[PrinceMyshkin]

If this is the poem to which you directed my attention & provided some background, it is indeed a passionate denunciation of all the false 'glamour' associated with acts of war or ideological violence. And there's an irresistible flow to it from beginning to end.

[Dinkleberry2010]

I suggest you leave out the name John Wilkes Booth and use the word "you" instead.

[cogs]

i didn't get line 2 and 3, but i totally understand the 'selling of his soul' for 'a coin'. how ignominious, and cowardly to put a bullet through the shoulders of a giant, and somehow steal their fame for oneself.

[hack]

Thank you all for the read and comments. Jermac, I considered leaving out the name, but feel that it is so personal an indictment that leaving the name out entirely would not work for me. The alternative, I suppose, would be to include the name in the title. Cogs, the second line refers to Booths reputation as an actor, which suffered by comparison to his more famous father and brother, and his attempt, with this infamous act, to eclipse their fame. The third line, in its reference to Booth as a "summer tough", is meant to be something analogous to the phrase "sunshine patriot". The line also makes note of the fact that he was a celebrity of some note and no stranger to the demands and advantages of fame. The "coin" mentioned here signifies fame. The poem is meant to be in the voice of a supporter of the Confederate cause who questions the sincerity of Booths motives. Anyway, it occurred to me as I read something of the life of my ggg grandmother, who lost two sons within the space of two days in that war. Three other sons (out of twelve) were wounded at various points during the Civil War. I knew nothing of this family history until fairly recently and I am now trying to tease some detail out of this tale. I realize that it is of no particular interest to most readers. I find that I am not very happy with it. I will work on it and see what happens. Thanks again.