Fred on Fascism

“Fascism is,” a learned don
Once told Fred in a bar,
“A feminine phenomenon.”
Fred wouldn’t go so far.

The phrase might sound, Fred would admit,
Felicitous and fine;
The chap was perhaps too struck with it:
Where should one draw the line?

“The ruthless certainty they’re right . . .
Such parallels are plain.
And yet their tactics are not quite
As easy to contain.”

“And when our lads, who’d laid it low
In Berlin and in Rome,
Marched back they found it wasn’t so
Simple a task at home . . .”

Watching him stagger off, Fred thought
Only in academe
Does one find such a fancy sort
Of way to blow off steam.

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Robert Conquest's latest collection of poems, Penultimata was published in June by Waywiser Press.

Topics: Poetry

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