Winston Churchill’s iconic phrase, “It’s not even the beginning of the end,” was uttered at a pivotal moment in World War II. This period was marked by significant uncertainties and difficulties, as Nazi Germany’s rule remained unchecked and the Allies faced numerous challenges. The public’s sentiments were weakened by the harsh reality of surviving through adversity, leaving them anxious and vulnerable. His love of poetry shaped his thought and leadership, particularly his ability to bring together seemingly contradictory truths into a vision that was at once tragic and joyful.
Churchill was as direct as an Edwardian in manner and temperament. He would have highly appreciated the recent work of American poet Jack Gilbert, especially Gilbert’s masterpiece, “Defence Summary.” Gilbert begins by acknowledging the horrors of the world, then disarms the fatalist by making joy an act of courage. Churchill came under fire for frequently bathing while drinking vintage cognac and custom-made cigars. Both see self-confidence not as a betrayal of suffering, but as a moral necessity that finds beauty in the complexity of love and grief. collection reject heaven Contains poems by Gilbert.
Sadness is everywhere. Massacre everywhere. If it’s a baby
We’re not starving somewhere, we’re starving.
Somewhere else. There’s a fly in my nostril.
But we enjoy life because that’s what God wants.
Otherwise, the morning before the dawn of summer will not come
It’s very nicely made. Bengal tigers won’t do that.
It forms miraculously well. poor women
laughing together at the fountain
The suffering they know and its horror
In their future, someone will smile and laugh
In the village it is very sick. laughter happens
Every day, on the terrible streets of Calcutta,
And the women laugh in their Bombay cages.
If we deny our own happiness, we resist our own contentment;
We reduce the significance of their deprivation.
We have to risk our joy. We can happily do it, but
But not joy. I’m not looking forward to it. we must have
The stubbornness to accept our joy even in the face of ruthlessness.
The hearth of this world. To make injustice unique
The measure of our attention is glorifying the devil.
If the Lord’s locomotive runs us over,
We should be grateful that the end was a big one.
We have to accept that music exists no matter what.
We stand at the bow of a small boat again
anchored in a small port late at night
Overlooking the Sleeping Island: Waterfront
There are three shuttered cafes and one bare light.
A rowing boat where you can hear the faint sound of oars in the silence
It’s really worth coming out slowly and coming back
Sadness that will last for years to come.
– 2005
Joy has a quiet strength that holds firm even in difficult situations. Even the bombing of London and the destruction of government buildings could not dislodge it. “This is not the end. . . . There lies within us a life force and a guiding light by which the troubled world around us can find safe harbor after its stormy voyage. I believe there is.”
No matter what happens, there will always be music.
notes and reading
“Now is not the end…” – From a speech given by Churchill at the London Mayor’s Day Luncheon (November 10, 1942).
Churchill: Walking with destiny – Andrew Roberts (2018). This book is known for its balanced approach in exploring both Churchill’s achievements and shortcomings, making it an invaluable resource for understanding Churchill’s complex personality.
In command of history: Churchill fought and wrote World War II – David Reynolds (2005). “[Reynolds] In fact, it’s saying something new and interesting about one of the most storied figures of all time. ” –New York Times Book Review (November 13, 2005).
edwardian era – during the reign of Edward VII (1901-1910), but its cultural influence extended until the outbreak of World War I, and it was characterized by formal sophistication and rhetorical elegance.
“Preparation for the Defense” – Denying Heaven, jack gilbert (2012). “On the rare occasions when Jack Gilbert gives readings in places like New York, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco, it is not uncommon for men and women in the audience to tell Jack Gilbert how his poetry saved their lives. ”- paris reviews (Autumn/Winter 2005).
“Some of us believe that…” – Chateau Laurier (Hotel), Ottawa (November 9, 1954).
About 2 + 2 = 5: https://williamgreen.substack.com/about – revision
Source: 2 + 2 = 5 – williamgreen.substack.com
