7 October - Me and HH
My natal day I share with the Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler,
but I hope despite this fact that we are not too similar.
I sometimes as a child enjoyed collecting postage stamps,
while he when entering adulthood liked setting up death-camps.
His father was a school-master, and mine a politician,
but both of us, in different ways, inherited ambition.
On leaving school I got a job with the local daily press,
He tried out chicken farming, then set up the SS.
In different ways and times, it seemed, the both us succeeded.
I have several Jewish friends, but I don't think that he did.
And then I went to Law School (a foolish thing to do),
But Heinrich also made mistakes, and landed in the poo.
I studied torts, he torture - those were our salad days.
And we both of us studied murder, but in quite different ways.
We found we both were walking roads that had no turning back,
he got a suit, I got a robe, both in the colour black.
I sometimes like to sail a boat upon the sunny waves,
while among Heinrich's interests was the filling of mass-graves.
I have a little family, and a child who likes being read to.
Heinrich, it is said, got sick, when he saw what his orders led to.
He got too close to a firing-squad and got splashed with the brains,
I sit on the floor with my 3-year-old and we play with wooden trains.
In one way he did more good than me, but then he came before:
He gave Hitler bad advice and helped him lose the war.
He didn't like "Jewish physics", which left Hitler in the lurch,
because he wouldn't let Albert Speer have nuclear research.
For Einstein had discovered it, and Einstein was a Jew.
So there perhaps Heinrich's lunacy was good for me and you.
When they found out about the camps, some looked on him with scorn,
but I could play no part in this, for I had not been born.
When the British captured Heinrich, and he was overcome
He killed himself with poison that he'd hidden up his bum.
That was the end of Heinrich, and now he's a dead letter.
Like me, he wrote some poetry, but I think I write better.
Author notes
This is the first non-pre-write of any length I have attempted. I usually avoid them on principle.
Written November 10th, 2006
A contest entry
- Who shares your birthday??? by PrettyRagDoll.
300 points, ended November 12, 2006, 6 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - History Has a Way of Repeating Itself by Carpe Noctem.
875 points, ended January 17, 21 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Funny but profound
This is a very interesting poem, and, as I say, funny but profound. congratulaions!
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Great!
Somehow i missed this, well of all the people to share a birthday with, he was an evil looking bugger.
As always you manage to put a bit of education into it, without it seeming like a history lesson.
I've just had a look at who I share mine with.. Samuel Beckett.. still waiting for his Godot..
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Many thanks for your good wishes.I hope your writing continues to go well.
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Many thanks!
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CONGRATS!!! On your trophy ... very well deserved ... smiles ~cheeky~
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You may have noticed i've added a few more couplets to my verse for your contest.
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A very interesting poem, I think I learned quite alot about you and Heinrich. I loved how you did the comparisons between the two of you with your observations. I was able to picture your poem in my mind as I read with your great imagery as well. I have a 4 year old son, and we like to play trains quite often, kids are amazing and such a joy. Great work, and much luck to you in this contest
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first comment dance well, thank you for making an exception for me
i hope you had fun. now on to the write, this was quite a different character than the rest of the poems have, which is a nice change of pace. i liked the way you wrote this because your rhyme scheme was pleasantly done (usually i hate rhyming poems). i liked how you compare the two of you, and thank god you are different! thank you for entering my contest.
-d0ll -
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Published
Yopu my be interested to know my poem on "Oct 7" has been accepted for publication in the magazine Quadrant. They pay, too. Thank you for inspiring me to write it.
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