There is a picture

of a man in a crowd, black and white,

taken when Europe stood

once more

on the precipice of age old

and defiant war, when the man

in the comedy moustache, Chaplin like stance

a true ragged disease and blot,

but without the humour

of the boy and the subtle refrain

of the decorator of Vienna,

raged for destruction, raged for annihilation,

with frenzied fury and dire plans of Mercury

filled wrath, rage it is all the rage;

the man in the photograph, Chaplin out of sight,

refused to raise his arm, refused to play the hate game

and with that simple act of humanity,

of not following the words of destruction,

should be lauded for all time…

arms crossed, refusing to salute,

refusing hate, refusing to bow,

a lesson for all

who take hate for granted.

 

Ian D. Hall 2015