Comments on: Harold Pinter's War Poem

Harold Pinter's War Poem

MiguelCardoso — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 09:28:24 -0800

There's no escape.
The big pricks are out.
They'll fuck everything in sight.
Watch your back.
Harold Pinter
[More inside]

By: MiguelCardoso

MiguelCardoso — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 09:32:44 -0800

This poem was published in last Friday's Spectator( though it's not online). Like other political poems by this writer who is arguably the greatest living playwright in the English language, it seems at first to be unsophisticated, simplistic and grossly anti-American. Although Pinter's political activism is well known, I would argue that they are in fact about the bluntness of political language itself, mimicking its crudeness and exposing its violence. This is much in line with what he has done in his plays - most notably in Mountain Language , one of his masterpieces, and clearly indebted to the work of the writer he most admired (and who admired him back): Samuel Beckett. Or is this poem - loaded question, perhaps - just what it is? I was surprised my mother, who is English, over 80, pro-American, conservative and hates foul language of any kind, thought it was brilliant. In this light, his fascinating polemic with fellow (Jewish) playwright Arnold Wesker over Iraq is entirely apposite. What's up? Should we pay attention or not? I confess I'm befuddled...

By: woj

woj — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 09:38:12 -0800

someone is a bit of a fucking potty-mouth!

By: xmutex

xmutex — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 09:51:20 -0800

Woo, use of the word 'fuck' is so daring and edgy.

By: Skot

Skot — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:03:50 -0800

While I thought that was a fairly terrible poem (I also confess that I think Pinter lost his mind some years ago), it does, however, allow me to shamelessly self-link to one of his overlooked masterpieces. (And when I say "masterpiece" I of course mean "horseshit.")

By: gsteff

gsteff — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:04:34 -0800

Link broken? I'm getting a Pinter poem titled, "American Football" which, while cute, holds no appeal to me until the Steelers fix their passing game.

By: clavdivs

clavdivs — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:05:59 -0800

Watch your back. Harold Pinter my thoughts exactly....but where in the poem does it say "watch your back". How does your title for the post, "Democracy", fit into the authors ....meaning (i guess meaning, perhaps intention?) To me, the poem sounds like Pauli Walnuts recapping the New England game with Silvio Dante. sorry, i cannot take serious a poet whom uses locker room talk to describe locker room action and equate it somehow with politics.

By: gsteff

gsteff — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:10:37 -0800

I am dumb.

By: Mack Twain

Mack Twain — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:28:30 -0800

High in the Cascade Mountains I met an old man Around a campfire we shared a meal of Spotted Owl He remarked that Bald Eagle was tastier But as hard to catch as Wolverine. I tried to explain Ecology and the Green Movement But he said his favorite colors were Orange, Silver and Purple.

By: MiguelCardoso

MiguelCardoso — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:29:04 -0800

Oops, I seem to have confused things a bit. I tried to link to those poems of his more directly related to the current situation regarding Iraq and his position regarding the U.S. The poem published on Friday is titled "Democracy" and its full text are the four quoted lines. The poem I linked to under "Democracy" was the one he wrote about the Gulf War, entitled "American Football". Finally, the poem Harold Pinter reads in the last (Polemic with Wesker) link, written last February, is also about the war with Iraq. Sorry for the confusion - poetic license and all that. ;)

By: muckster

muckster — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:33:20 -0800

Thanks Miguel. I feel so disgusted and horrified today, this just about does it justice.

By: riviera

riviera — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:36:31 -0800

Pinter, as a poet, is a great playwright. Being unable to distinguish his poems from the Craig Brown parodies says all you need to know.

By: matteo

matteo — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:36:55 -0800

who is arguably the greatest living playwright in the English language cough!*Mamet*cough! cough!*Miller*cough!

By: Skot

Skot — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:43:23 -0800

who is arguably the greatest living playwright in the English language John Guare, baby.

By: grabbingsand

grabbingsand — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:47:24 -0800

who is arguably the greatest living playwright in the English language cough!*Stoppard*cough! cough!*Shepard*cough!

By: Satapher

Satapher — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 11:20:21 -0800

cock and endless balls

By: Down10

Down10 — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 11:43:22 -0800

He's obviously a fucking genius.

By: luriete

luriete — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 11:57:29 -0800

Fucking David Mamet, you fucks!

By: Vidiot

Vidiot — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 12:33:29 -0800

Everybody likes Mamet! That's why they call him Mamet!

By: gravelshoes

gravelshoes — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 15:36:10 -0800

here's an interview with Pinter from the Guardian last year where he talks very beautifully about his cancer, war and cricket. and here's a timely poem he wrote a couple of months ago that will really piss some of you off Here they go again, The Yanks in their armoured parade Chanting their ballads of joy As they gallop across the big world Praising America's God. The gutters are clogged with the dead The ones who couldn't join in The others refusing to sing The ones who are losing their voice The ones who've forgotten the tune. The riders have whips which cut. Your head rolls onto the sand Your head is a pool in the dirt Your head is a stain in the dust Your eyes have gone out and your nose Sniffs only the pong of the dead And all the dead air is alive With the smell of America's God.

By: gravelshoes

gravelshoes — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 15:42:21 -0800

and xmutex - I think Pinter is one of the only people who can still use the full power of the word fuck. I'm not sure quite how he does it

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 16:22:53 -0800

So when did Serious Poetry and Death Metal lyrics converge, anyway? Not that I'm against the phenomenon, mind you, just curious. Go go Harold 'Cannibal Corpse' Pinter!

By: clavdivs

clavdivs — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 16:54:19 -0800

Sorry for the confusion - poetic license and all that. ;) they check these these days. the broken links i mean.

By: semmi

semmi — Mon, 17 Mar 2003 22:12:58 -0800

"...it seems at first to be unsophisticated, simplistic and grossly anti-American." It seems that at second, third, fourth, and fifth. Pinter is famous for his silences.

By: i_cola

i_cola — Tue, 18 Mar 2003 04:27:13 -0800

*koff* Ernie Wise *koff*