the little car (excerpts)
by Guillaume Apollinaire
the 31st day of the month of August 1914
I left Deauville a little before midnight
in Rouveyre's little car
with his chauffeur we were three
we bid adieu to a whole era
furious giants were standing up upon Europe
eagles lifted from their eyries awaiting the sun
voracious fishes rose from the abyss
peoples were scrambling to sound their own depths
the dead trembled from fear in their somber lodgings
all the dogs were barking when we arrived at the border
I was leaving and yet within me were all these armies at battle
I felt them rising within me and spread out across the land
through the forests and happy villages of Belgium
Francorchamps with the Redwater Creek and it's hot-springs
the region through which invasions always come
...I'll never forget that nocturnal voyage where none of us said a word
...that next afternoon
when we arrived in Paris
the general mobilisation had been announced
we understood my comrade and I
that that the little car had driven us to a
New era
and that even though we were both full grown men
we had nonetheless just been born
November the 11th, 2008 marks 90 years since the "War to End all Wars" ground to a halt. What does this inspire in you?
Poem excerpt: "the little car" by Guillaume Apollinaire
about his drive from Deauville (near Liege) in Belgium to Paris on the eve of war.
Illustration:sketch of Guillaume Apollinaire by Pablo Picasso in 1916 when then poet was recuperating from a shrapnel wound to the head.
Apollinaire was taken by the Spanish Influenza on the 9th of November,1918.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on November 14, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 500, Silver: 300, Bronze: 200
- Final notes: Thank you one and all for sharing your poetry with me, it was a pleasure to read each entry!
Contest Winners
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How strange to be in Europe now
with Europe split across its seams,• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
The rivalries of men of state
The pride of petty Kings• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
At the Second Battle of the Marne
They found Joyce Kilmer face down in the dirt• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [6]
1 - 6 of 6
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It was finally over, the Bosch had been beaten
or more accurately they had been humiliated.• Commented on by judge. -
Surreal and frantic feelings
stung my eyes, stormed my heart• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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Inspiring
Thi is a huge subject, and I'm buzzing with thoughts. You have combined a favourite poet and artist in your contest, and I'll have to try for something special.
I'll be back! -
"The soldier is the first to pray for peace." ~ General George Patton
Good luck to all who enter. Thanks for hosting, Scribe. 
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What a pity you exclude "previously written" work. If you change your mind, please let me know.
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I know in this I'm excluding a lot of good poetry...probably a lot more than I could handle!
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good prompt
i just had a talk about this with my history teacher
so i will think about comming back..
=]
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