THE POEM BOOK

PATRICE LUMUMBA & JOHN DONNE
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two poems not meant as poems...

PATRICE LUMUMBA
To Africa,

For this independence of the Congo, even as it is celebrated today with Belgium, a friendly country with whom we deal as equal to equal, no Congolese worthy of the name will ever be able to forget that it was by fighting that it has been won, a day-to-day fight, an ardent and idealistic fight, a fight in which we were spared neither privation nor suffering, and for which we gave our strength and our blood. We are proud of this struggle, of tears, of fire, and of blood, to the depths of our being, for it was a noble and just struggle, and indispensable to put an end to the humiliating slavery which was imposed upon us by force.

- the new prime minister, Patrice Lumumba june 30 1960

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TPB's notes: These famous words by Patrice Lumumba were not originally written as a poem. During the celebration of Independence Day 30 June 1960, Lumumba, who was not scheduled to speak, delivered this impromptu speech which reminded the audience that the independence of the Congo was not granted magnanimously by Belgium. 

We include it here for the force of its beauty. And poetry.

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JOHN DONNE
For whom the bell tolls

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

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TPB’s notes: found notes:  These famous words by John Donne were not originally written as a poem - the passage is taken from the 1624 Meditation 17, from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and is prose. The words of the original passage are as follows: 

John Donne: Meditation 17 Devotions upon Emergent Occasions 

"No man is an iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee...."

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