A Proposal—July 28, 2020
Upon this date in 1794,
The French Revolution concluded in gore,
As Robespierre’s head hit the blood-stained floor
Of Paris’s Place de la Concorde,
Leaving poor France worse off than before.
Instead of commencing a new revolution,
Established on radical, naive solutions
That spark civil war, force redistribution,
Destroy liberty, and cause vast destitution,
Let’s salvage the values of our Constitution.
Rob Crisell is a writer, actor, teacher, and attorney in Southern California. After two decades in publishing, national non-profit work, law, and commercial real estate, he is now a full-time writer and educator. He’s the author of two books: “The Zoo of Animals” (an adventure novel for children) and “Shakespeare’s Book of Wisdom” (an advice book for young adults). He is an outside instructor with the Murrieta Valley Union School District where he teaches poetry and Shakespeare. You can find his TED Talk “How NOT to Hate Shakespeare” on You Tube. He is a lecturer with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. He’s written and performed several one-man shows based on Shakespeare works, including “Red, White & Bard! A Celebration of Shakespeare in America,” “Hamlet’s Guide to Happiness,” and “Romeo and Juliet’s Guide to Love.” He acts regularly with Shakespeare in the Vines. His blank verse adaptation of Sophocles’ Electra will be performed in Southern California in winter 2020. Recently, one of his poems won first place in the Friends of the Falun Gong poetry competition. He is a graduate of Yale University and George Mason University Law School. For details, visit his website at www.robcrisell.com or his You Tube channel.
I think the Congressman that just died is famous (or infamous?) for declaring:
The Constitution? We
don’t follow that here!
I’m all for salvaging the values of the Constitution. They’ve been savaged for too long.
The Constitution will be gone if the Democrat scum win the next election.
The Constitution is the only thing standing between the people and serfdom. The authoritarians have already led us most of the way there. Vote Trump early and often and get all your friends to do the same. Prayer is also necessary.
Thank you, Rob. This is a potent poetical reminder of exactly what we have to lose. Utterly chilling.
Thanks for all your comments. Some pundits argue that what we’re seeing is the death rattle of a revolution that began around 1917, not the beginning of one. I hope so, but I have my doubts.
A fine poem Rob: I like the sustained rhyming that you use; and of course the topic is so topical and relevant now. I agree with you. For more on the differences between the French and American Revolution, so see my recent article in The Epoch Times: https://www.theepochtimes.com/bastille-day-from-myth-to-fable_3411560.html All the best.