WHP: World Poetry Day, Part II
Robert H. Hiller was a serious artist, musician and scholar, and he will get his own entry in the future. But for today, one of his not-so-serious poems from Along the Way and Other Poems (1941):
Archaeology
(1200 Years Hence)
The date is three thousand one hundred and nineteen,
And the now ancient site of Verdum is the scene,
Three wise archaeologists working in France,
After long excavating, have unearthed by chance
A device most perplexing on this fam’d spot –
A device most important in warfare – but what?
Archaeologist A after long scrutiny
Has pronounced it an ancient earth roller to be.
Archaeologist B, after weeks of deep thought,
Said the thing was an engine with which the French fought.
But the third archaeologist stood first in rank,
And he in the end had pronounced it a “tank.”
Now as his wise conclusions were not known to err
Devotees of the science most promptly concur;
And science is placing upon it this tag
When the ghost of an old Yankee solder (a wag)
Who just itched when he saw his name in the collection
(And itched maybe more, from dire recollection)
To put the men right, with assurance suggested
He knew what it was, as he’d seen the thing tested.
“You fellers are wrong,” said this uncanny Yank,
“This isn’t no roller, and ‘t’sn’t no tank;
I was here at the time, and I know what I seen.
This engine of war’s a delousing machine.”
February 10, 1919
About The Project
With Wittenberg now celebrating its 175th year, and the University unable to hold regular in-person classes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor of History Thomas T. Taylor has started circulating several pieces on Wittenberg's history. Some originated in earlier series, either This Month in Wittenberg History or Happy Birthday Wittenberg. Others have their origin in the Wittenberg History Project or in some other, miscellaneous project. Sincerest thanks to Professor Taylor for connecting alumni, faculty, staff, and students through a historic lens.