[Newspoetry] Newspoem Submission

[William Gillespie]

Robert,

Thanks very much for your contribution. I should point out that this wonderful
website is not really mine, I am merely founder and designer. I acted as editor
in 1999, and since Y2K hard-working Joe Futrelle has done the editing, updating,
and web-developing of Newspoetry. I am still involved in the project, but mostly
as writer and spectator.

Your poem is welcome, and, yes, this site was designed as a forum for such
timely classics as "Deja Vu 1952."  I earnestly wish this were not the case, but
I am afraid the coming year will be full of creepy political events that should
not go unwritten-about, so I encourage you to revisit the site and consider
writing new Newspoetry to contribute.

Yours,
William

Robert Tell wrote:

> Dear William Gillespie:
>
> I just discovered your wonderful website.  During the Starr Hearings, I
> wrote the following poem and did not know what to do with it. So it rested
> in my computer memory.  I wonder if it might be shown on the website.  One
> of the problems with news poetry is the loss of timeliness and relevance
> when the moment passes.  Still, I hope there is something timeless in the
> concern about political witch hunts.  Let me know what you think. Thank you.
>
> Robert Tell
>
> DEJA VU 1952
>
> In 1998, the McStarrthy Hearings
> (for the House Bisexual Activities Committee)
> was beginning to get its bearings.
> The members were severe
> and we all heard them shout
> without a moment of self-doubt:
> "MORAL DECAY IS EVERYWHERE!"
>
> A standard bearer carrier,
> engendering much fear,
> a patriot, a warrior,
> had had his coming-out.
> "Hail McStarrthy" (we heard them shout)
> "MORAL DECAY IS EVERYWHERE!"
>
> Also everywhere, our bright boy scout.
> Citizen McStarrthy, if you please,
> the Committee's fearless prosecutor,
> was rooting out the sleaze.
> He said, "Let me be clear,
> MORAL DECAY IS EVERYWHERE!
>
> Nowhere could evil be secure.
> (Watch out, Beelzebub!)
> Bookstores, libraries, classrooms,
> offices, bedrooms, bathrooms,
> yes even bathrooms, he would scrub
> clean and saintliness restore.
> He said, "Depraved ones beware,
> MORAL DECAY IS EVERYWHERE!"
>
> Nowhere could badness hide.
> Your neighbors would know, your children would know,
> your mother would know what you do.
> And good patriots all, once they had testified,
> Citizen McStarrthy would too.
> He said, "This is good for my career,
> for MORAL DECAY IS EVERYWHERE!"
>
> Justice obstructors were pursued by McStarrthy.
> Also, anyone different or who disagreed.
> And if you were suborning perjury,
> you could expect a detailed press release.
> No one could withstand his awesome power.
> His targets ranged across the hemisphere.
> His call could make the strongest of us cower.
> He said, this formidable mouthpiece:
> "MORAL DECAY IS EVERYWHERE!"
>
> Which left just one question
> in the land of the free:
> who the Hell was watching McStarrthy?
> For in fact, don't you see
> During that insipid year,
> MORAL DECAY WAS INDEED EVERYWHERE!
>
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