Page 11 of Collected Poems

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know that hanging takes much more

than a victim no matter his

load of manifest guilt. For even

in lynching a judge of sorts is needed—

a winner. Just think if Hitler

had gambled and won what chaos

the world would have known. His

implacable foe across the Channel

would surely have died for

war crimes. And as for H. Truman,

the Hiroshima villain, well!

Had Hitler won his war

de Gaulle would have needed no

further trial for was he not

condemned already by Paris

to die for his treason to France?… Had Hitler won,

Vidkun Quisling would have kept

his job as Prime Minister

of Norway simply by

Hitler winning.

Remembrance Day

Your proclaimed mourning

your flag at half-mast your

solemn face yoursmart backward

step and salute at the flowered

foot of empty graves your

glorious words—none, nothing

will their spirit appease. Had they

the choice they would gladly

have worn for you the same

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