deepundergroundpoetry.com
Hobnails in the Broken Glass
In winds and dust of Spanish sun
From Catalan to Andalus’
Come whispered poems from unknown graves
From highest Alps to Munich’s heart
From Auschwitz’s gates to "white house" walls
The fires burn from hobnail sparks.
From well-timed Roman railroad tracks
Hard through to Madrid’s barricades
The sheep that strut like geese have fled.
The streets have surely filled enough
With Ghetto blood, with sniper’s flight,
With those who hate and those who love.
From Gettysburg to Omaha
To Nuremberg, we put you down.
But now your boots begin again.
Our fathers and grandfathers scream
In shadows for your Fürhrer’s signs
You choose to follow, mad and dead.
So bring your torchlight and your boots
Your mindless chants and fearful hate
Your victim’s heart and coward’s rage.
Charlottesville won’t be the last
We’ve seen your kind and understand
We're still the snake that kill the rats.
And all your kind have found their place,
With garroting both self and forced
With Walther’s and with meat-house steel
Your hobnail spark with voices high
May hope for fire and broken glass...
Those flames will immolate you all.
Poet’s Note: One of my readers pointed out the need for references of lines from the poem. They are as follows –
Title and last stanza – November 9, 1938 – Kristallnacht “the night of broken glass” – Nazi Germany - German propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels delivers a passionate antisemitic speech to the Nazi party faithful in Munich. The party members are gathered in commemoration of the abortive Nazi Putsch of 1923 (Adolf Hitler’s first attempt to seize power). After the speech, Nazi officials order the Storm Troopers (SA) and other party formations to attack Jews and to destroy their homes, businesses, and houses of worship. The violence against Jews lasts into the morning hours of November 10th, and becomes known as Kristallnacht—the "Night of Broken Glass." Several dozen Jews lose their lives and tens of thousands are arrested and sent to concentration camps.
1st Stanza – Federico Garcia Lorca - "Federico García Lorca is one of the most important Spanish poets and dramatists of the twentieth century. He was born June 5, 1898, in Fuente Vaqueros, a small town a few miles from Granada in Andalusia, Spain. He was arrested in Granada on August 16, 1936, near the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. He is believed to have been murdered by Fascist forces on August 18 or 19, 1936." (Academy of American Poets)
Stanza 2 – The spread of Nazism – Adolf Hitler was from Bavaria near the German Alps, attempted to seize power in 1928 in Munich, Auschwitz is one of the most infamous of the Nazi Death Camps, the motto on its front gate is “Arbeit Macht Frei” – work sets you free. White House refers to Casa Blanca in French Morocco, under the control of the Nazi’s under the Vichy French. Hobnail Boots were an old style of military footwear – generally associated with forces of persecution.
Stanza 3 – Benito Mussolini, Fascist Dictator of Italy famous for coining the term Fascisti (from which fascism is derived) also for getting the Italian trains to run on time. Siege of Madrid 1936 -1939, City of Madrid is held under siege by the Fascist Armies of General Franco until falling on March 28, 1939. German and Italian fascist army were famous for Goose Stepping a high kicking formal marching style.
Stanza 4 – Warsaw Ghetto (segregated Jewish Part of the city) fell to the Nazi army September 1939 after intense and brutal fighting.
Stanza 5 – Gettysburg, the battle that broke the Rebel Army and would lead to the end of the rebellion that would have split the USA in two and led to a continued slave economy, Omaha Beach one of the bloodiest battles of D-Day (June 6th, 1944). Nuremburg is the German city where the Nazi War Crimes trials were held.
Stanza 6 – our fathers and grandfathers gave their lives to overthrow the Nazi takeover of Europe, the Neo-Nazi Alt-right were carrying pictures of Adolf Hitler during their rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Stanza 7 – Refers to the Charlottesville Virginia rally in which an anti-fascist protester was killed when an alt-right attendee rammed his car into the protest.
Stanza 8 – One of the earliest US Flags bore the picture of a snake with the motto “Don’t Tread on Me.”
Stanza 9 – refers to the various ways the Nazi’s and Fascists met their death, hangings by sentence, suicidal hanging and gunshots, and most notably Mussolini who was killed by a mob, castrated and had his naked corpse suspended publicly on a meat hook.
Stanza 10 – warning to the Neo-fascists that the fires that they start will incinerate them.
From Catalan to Andalus’
Come whispered poems from unknown graves
From highest Alps to Munich’s heart
From Auschwitz’s gates to "white house" walls
The fires burn from hobnail sparks.
From well-timed Roman railroad tracks
Hard through to Madrid’s barricades
The sheep that strut like geese have fled.
The streets have surely filled enough
With Ghetto blood, with sniper’s flight,
With those who hate and those who love.
From Gettysburg to Omaha
To Nuremberg, we put you down.
But now your boots begin again.
Our fathers and grandfathers scream
In shadows for your Fürhrer’s signs
You choose to follow, mad and dead.
So bring your torchlight and your boots
Your mindless chants and fearful hate
Your victim’s heart and coward’s rage.
Charlottesville won’t be the last
We’ve seen your kind and understand
We're still the snake that kill the rats.
And all your kind have found their place,
With garroting both self and forced
With Walther’s and with meat-house steel
Your hobnail spark with voices high
May hope for fire and broken glass...
Those flames will immolate you all.
Poet’s Note: One of my readers pointed out the need for references of lines from the poem. They are as follows –
Title and last stanza – November 9, 1938 – Kristallnacht “the night of broken glass” – Nazi Germany - German propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels delivers a passionate antisemitic speech to the Nazi party faithful in Munich. The party members are gathered in commemoration of the abortive Nazi Putsch of 1923 (Adolf Hitler’s first attempt to seize power). After the speech, Nazi officials order the Storm Troopers (SA) and other party formations to attack Jews and to destroy their homes, businesses, and houses of worship. The violence against Jews lasts into the morning hours of November 10th, and becomes known as Kristallnacht—the "Night of Broken Glass." Several dozen Jews lose their lives and tens of thousands are arrested and sent to concentration camps.
1st Stanza – Federico Garcia Lorca - "Federico García Lorca is one of the most important Spanish poets and dramatists of the twentieth century. He was born June 5, 1898, in Fuente Vaqueros, a small town a few miles from Granada in Andalusia, Spain. He was arrested in Granada on August 16, 1936, near the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. He is believed to have been murdered by Fascist forces on August 18 or 19, 1936." (Academy of American Poets)
Stanza 2 – The spread of Nazism – Adolf Hitler was from Bavaria near the German Alps, attempted to seize power in 1928 in Munich, Auschwitz is one of the most infamous of the Nazi Death Camps, the motto on its front gate is “Arbeit Macht Frei” – work sets you free. White House refers to Casa Blanca in French Morocco, under the control of the Nazi’s under the Vichy French. Hobnail Boots were an old style of military footwear – generally associated with forces of persecution.
Stanza 3 – Benito Mussolini, Fascist Dictator of Italy famous for coining the term Fascisti (from which fascism is derived) also for getting the Italian trains to run on time. Siege of Madrid 1936 -1939, City of Madrid is held under siege by the Fascist Armies of General Franco until falling on March 28, 1939. German and Italian fascist army were famous for Goose Stepping a high kicking formal marching style.
Stanza 4 – Warsaw Ghetto (segregated Jewish Part of the city) fell to the Nazi army September 1939 after intense and brutal fighting.
Stanza 5 – Gettysburg, the battle that broke the Rebel Army and would lead to the end of the rebellion that would have split the USA in two and led to a continued slave economy, Omaha Beach one of the bloodiest battles of D-Day (June 6th, 1944). Nuremburg is the German city where the Nazi War Crimes trials were held.
Stanza 6 – our fathers and grandfathers gave their lives to overthrow the Nazi takeover of Europe, the Neo-Nazi Alt-right were carrying pictures of Adolf Hitler during their rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Stanza 7 – Refers to the Charlottesville Virginia rally in which an anti-fascist protester was killed when an alt-right attendee rammed his car into the protest.
Stanza 8 – One of the earliest US Flags bore the picture of a snake with the motto “Don’t Tread on Me.”
Stanza 9 – refers to the various ways the Nazi’s and Fascists met their death, hangings by sentence, suicidal hanging and gunshots, and most notably Mussolini who was killed by a mob, castrated and had his naked corpse suspended publicly on a meat hook.
Stanza 10 – warning to the Neo-fascists that the fires that they start will incinerate them.
Published 16th Sep 2017
| Edited 22nd Sep 2017
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16th Sep 2017 9:40pm
27th Sep 2017 5:26am
Thank you, dear Oblivion. Sorry for the delay in responding, but know I am always grateful... geoff
17th Sep 2017 5:56pm
This is so deep and thought provoking. I like how it really describes a certain mood.
27th Sep 2017 5:27am
18th Sep 2017 6:51pm
I don't know half the place mentioned, but those I do fetch gruesome past.
I am terrified as I am awed by the smooth flow of words against horrific imagery
I am terrified as I am awed by the smooth flow of words against horrific imagery
27th Sep 2017 5:31am
Thank you... I hope the references helped with place and time...I am a student of the first fascist rising and see too many similarities today political climate. I thank you so much for the read and comment. geoff
I finally got to fully read this piece once you mentioned that you'd done some editing. It's amazing, thomas. I can't wait for us to chat later tomorrow about it. And btw, I never had to check with your references because I've always had a passion for history most of my life that I understood everything you wrote about, clear & with much appreciation. Oh yes...
we must talk later... there's much to discuss, I'm so looking forward to your call!
(the tiger paces & quietly growls low...)
queenie
we must talk later... there's much to discuss, I'm so looking forward to your call!
(the tiger paces & quietly growls low...)
queenie
4th Oct 2017 1:02am
I so appreciated the timewe spent disussing this poem... I am still determining the alterations... But will make the changes soon. I bow. 😺🐯
22nd Sep 2017 10:18am
4th Oct 2017 1:08am
I had originally started this for your silence is acceptance competition, but I could not get it to gel... But it wouldn't leave me until I finished it. I appreciate your comment, it eminated from deep within... Geoff
4th Oct 2017 3:06am
