Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHAUVINISM, by FRANCOIS COPPEE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHAUVINISM, by                    
First Line: I admit it. I cannot enter
Last Line: "the neighbor's wife, or your mamma?"
Subject(s): France; Poetry & Poets


I admit it. I cannot enter
The humanitarian romance.
As a chauvinist, a hundred-percenter,
I love your ancient lands, O France!

Apostles with the gift of gab
By whom the Cross on high is swirled
With the words of Schiller stab:
"We are citizens of the world!"

Alas, I've heard it rise before,
That vain, delusive clamor.
But with wild hatred's fiercest roar
The invasion blurred the glamor.

And now they're starting to sweet-face
Those who have made us bend the knee:
"Brotherlands, let us embrace!"
What pitiable lunacy!

My age has carved its epitaph;
Now this proud land grovels low.
And in fury, on your staff
You tremble, standard, at the blow!

Struck crazy by the carnage-gore,
Demagogues reared by the common hand
Tell us there will be nevermore
A frontier or a fatherland.

Delusion! Madman's dream in the sky!
"Which is closer to you—ah,
Tell me, little one passing by,
The neighbor's wife, or your mamma?"





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