Variations on Shooting an Elephant

Author(s): Peter Michelson

Source: Chicago Review , Summer, 1975, Vol. 27, No. 1, Talking American Poetry
(Summer, 1975), pp. 62-63
Published by: Chicago Review

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/25303279

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Peter Michelson

HOMAGE TO BERRYMAN

Henry is, most sure, a Big One now.

Won't get smaller, Henry's bigness, not
a jot. It's all too much, Henry thought,
something got to give. So Henry took
a dive. It did. Luckily, he done
his singing, Henry did. And how. Oh
Henry is, most sure, among the Big Ones
now.

VARIATIONS ON SHOOTING AN ELEPH

A theme by Orwell

Surrealists have taken over. Completely.

Contradiction is the ultimate logic.
The answer was so simple. They couldn't believe
it. Except Salvador Dali could. He made
his money in advertising. Contradiction
is a lot more interesting than lies.

"The revolution's not gone well." So (lies?)

Juanita. Castro. I know completely
what she means. Call it contradiction.
Fascists have extravagance in logic
but they're boring. They won't win. We're made
better. People prefer the circus, believe

it or not. Shooting pachyderms we believe

in and are charmed by more than puffy lies.
No surrealist ever shot or made
dead elephants his trade. Though fascists have, comple
(What's so boring of them is their logic)
Than they are more ultimate is contradiction.

In re: because??of all the contradiction

(who knows?) people pay to see what they believe
in, shooting elephants: it's impossible to lie,
it's hit or miss. Unerring. Circus logic
62

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is unboring. Contradiction. Surrealist completely
under cover. Wisely. People's made

by god! perverse. Elephants by some are made

to link their trunks to tails. Contradiction
is diverting but people's not completely
fooled, them on their (skirted) hind legs dancing. Believes
in, people, mostly ultimates not lies.
Shoot the pachyderm demands the people. Logic

bores them. Luckily? Their logic is the logic

of ice cream Wally says. He knows. They're made
better. (We're) Bored to death with lies.
Give us geeks, fascist! Contradiction's
what we thrive for. People most believe
what most they can't believe on. Surrealist completely.

Shoot, fascist! Impaled on contradiction

logic is what logic's made. Believe
what lies you will. Perform our will completely.

63

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