Replying to postings on Leadership esp. Tyranny
Vixi duellis nuper idoneus
Et militavi non sine gloria.
-NAMING OF PARTS-
To-day we have naming of the parts, Yesterday,
We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning
We shall have what to do after the firing. But to-day,
To-day we have naming the parts. Japonica
Glistens like coral in all the neighbouring gardens,
And to-day we have naming the parts.
This is the lower sling swivel. And this
Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see,
When you are given your slings. And this is the piling swivel,
Which in your case you have not got. The branches
Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,
Which in our case we have not got.
This is the safety catch, which is always released
With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me
See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy
If you have strength in your thumb. The blossoms
Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see
Any of them using their finger
And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this
Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it
Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this
Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards
The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers:
They call it easing the Spring.
They call it easing the Spring; it is perfectly easy
If you have any strength in your thumb; like the bolt
And the breech, and the cocking-piece, and the point of the balance
Which in our case we have not got; and the almond blossom
Silent in all the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards
For to-day we have naming the parts
This poem was dedicated to Alan Mitchel and is titled
LESSONS OF THE WAR
Henry Reed
In this I see two fundamental forces at 'work' upon which anyone might
usefully meditate.
Herein, in as much as you might think 'soft' overcomes 'hard', water wears
down rock, one might discover something important for meeting tomorrow's
challenges of leadership (whatever that means to you) in the met challenges
of yesterday.
Confucius drew wisdom and subtle influence from 'knowing the people'. It is
'knowing the people' that sheds the greater light.
-" A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts -given."
Rupert Brooke 1887-1915 (Killed in action)
Best wishes,
Andrew Campbell
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