Hi--

Another wonderful entrant for our ZEST poets Poetry Hall of Shame. 
Apart from being a new low for Bush propaganda, it tells us a lot
about what exactly is wrong about the teaching of poetry at the high
school level...

Aside about publishing, vanity, etc: printing a book of poems has not
been a problem and is now less of a problem than ever.  The problem
lies in making a work of high standards, then getting people to read
and respect it, and neither of those aspects can be bought.

****

Y'all will love this.  The following is a poem from the new English textbook
prescribed for the XI grade in Pakistan.  The BBC reports that a
spokesperson for the National Book Foundation, the Pakistani government's
textbook publishing arm, said that the order of the first letters of each
line in the poem was entirely coincidental.

Have fun,
-girish

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

THE LEADER

Patient and steady with all he must bear,
Ready to meet every challenge with care,
Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,
Strong in his faith, refreshingly real.

Isn't afraid to propose what is bold,
Doesn't conform to the usual mold,
Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight won't do,
Never backs down when he sees what is true,
Tells it all straight, and means it all too.

Going forward and knowing he's right,
Even when doubted for why he would fight,
Over and over he makes his case clear
Reaching to touch the ones who won't hear.

Growing in strength, he won't be unnerved,
Ever assuring he'll stand by his word.

Wanting the world to join his firm stand,
Bracing for war, but praying for peace,
Using his power so evil will cease
So much a leader and worthy of trust,
Here stands a man who will do what he must.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

The original news item, in Urdu, can be found at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/story/2005/12/051201_textbook_bush_poem.shtml



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