Lurking in the shadows
of ephemeral alleyways ,
a cipher ,a chimera flitting
between disillusion and disappointments ;
Nondescript , commonplace ,19 years old ,
a refugee fleeing from the earlier
failure to bestow a kiss of death on his intended ;
Along the route ,
bustling streets and boisterous thoroughfares gaily bedecked
with flowers and flags welcome the Royal motorcade ,
resplendent in their plumed cocked hats ,epaulettes and braid ;
A time , a chance , a kairos moment
that was lost re-emerges to be
re-taken ,ventured anew
grasped with both trembling hands and
a desperate heart ,its consequences unforeseen ;
The smashing of Stephen’s Crown ,the fall
of Angels ,the ruination of Eagles amid
infernoes yet to be stoked ,yet to be lit ;
A nondescript commonplace 19 year old
hefts the pistol ,a Browning .380 Model 1910 ;
He is standing some five feet away from
the reversing now stalled motor car ,
He is facing Ferdinand and the beloved Sophie ;
then the shots ring out ,
forever.
( Footnote : On June 28,1914 ,19 year old Gavrilo Princip,a Serbian nationalist fanatic
shot and killed the heir to the Austrian Throne,Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie.)
Great narrative and beautifully done.
People around me say that the situation, politically and economically, is pretty much the same as it was in 1914… a trigger is all that is missing to start a new world war… As I see it, that first one never ceased! Great poem!
Intense, graphic and excellently narrated,
Precious life is too fragile in front of an insane bullet. Lovely crafting and word play !
Transported in time to a defining moment in the world history. The versatility of the Poet enables a perfect presentation of the events leading up to the climax. Brilliant as usual !