Casablanca : Lord Dunsany and Occupied France

Some of the 1940 war poems of the distinguished fantasist may interest 'Casablanca' fans. The film makers were operating in this atmosphere, and if it seems overblown and dramatic today, they were overblown and dramatic times.

(Story of Abdiel is found in Milton's 'Paradise Lost')

IN HONOUR OF GENERAL DEGAULLE

Ere the rebellious hosts from Heaven fell,
Forth from their midst in scorn and all alone
There strode the faithful angel, Abdiel.
And with what words they cursed him is not known.

But we do know that a French court to-day
Sentenced DeGaulle, because at German feet
He left them wallowing and strode away
And would not share their shame and their defeat,

But looked from heights of hope, far higher lands
Than Vichy knows, and saw beyond disasters.
Afar, where Victory winged and waiting stands,
And still serves France and not her German masters.

Very interesting. I'm familiar, of course, with some of Dunsany's work, but had no idea he wrote ww ii era poetry, or of its content.

Thank you for sharing that.

That first line: "ere the rebellious hosts from heaven fell" sounds derivativein a positive, homage-like wayto something. Can't think of what right now

I thought it was meant to sound like Milton. Dunsany knew a lot about poetry and its structure, and the line you quote could easily be dropped into Paradise Lost.

Here is one about the other side. Note it is in the classical sonnet form.

MONSIEUR DE PARIS

I looked into the future, and not far,

And saw all Paris in a single street,

Or so it seemed, and heard a myriad feet

Shuffle in expectation, and the jar

Of eager voices; then a curious car

Appeared, and the one man was on a seat

For whom they waited in the dust and heat.

'Petain!' the cry goes up, and rolls afar.

But who is this all Paris seems to know,

To whom the marshal comes? The early sun

Shines on his face as the wild voices grow,

And on him are the eyes of everyone.

Who is he, all dressed up in suit of black

And black kid gloves, to welcome Petain back?

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I admit I had to Google the title of this poem. But when I did, I discovered that the poem had an edge.