Tag: American Civil War

‘Gone With The Wind’ Premieres December 15 1939 (Atlanta)

Photo by Edgar Colomba on Pexels.com

One of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters ever was premiered this day, December 15 1939, at Loew’s Grand Theatre, Atlanta. It is thought that around 300,000 people in Atlanta came out in celebration.

The film tells the tragic tale of a southern family’s struggle and disintegration during the ensuing melee of the American Civil War, which took place between 1861 and 1865.

Gone With The Wind has an iconic cast of stars, including Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard and Olivia de Haviland and remains highly popular today.

Copyright Francis 2020

Haibun: War is Never Civil

united-states-of-america-flag-905191
Photo by Gerritt Tisdale from Pexels

Some arresting civil war portraits,
they are not easy to share.
Two young men posing awkwardly,
bow ties for battle, their absent smiles
due to the long exposure.
A picture may say a thousand words
but raises profound questions too.
It’s brother versus brother,
one in blue, the other in gray
and no quarter will be given,
courtesy of sponsors miles from the front.
There’s no fear in their eyes,
only the vacancy of open fields.
They will show allegiance to their flag,
let’s hope it protects them.
Both think their causes are just,
but many have come this way
and many more will follow –
in the name of liberty.
Their country may need them
but is it theirs?

These faded pictures
Forgotten names of young men
Sacrificial pose

copyright Francis Barker 2020

*To the uninitiated, a haibun is the combination of a prose poem and a haiku.