Subject: RE: Kennedy Assassination
From:
Art Thieme
Date: 13 Jun 98 - 03:52 PM
Joe Hickerson sent this to me back in 1964. It was in an article in the NEW YORK TIMES -- Sunday, July 12th, '64.
Sarajevo, Yogoslavia--July 11th
The president is already a part of folklore!
In this Balkan land of folk heroes, John F. Kennedy has already become a part of the nation's lore.The President is a popular figure here. Now, after streets and squares have been named after him and best-selling books have been published about him, Mr. Kennedy has become the subject of a folk ballad. The song was composed recently by a young Bosnian, Ramo Ramovic, who works by day as a bookkeeper in Bosnafolklor company's home offices. In the evening he sings this song in the basement nightclub of the Europa Hotel, strumming his own accompaniment on a single-stringed usla, an ancient instrument that emits a haunting whine.
Mr. Ramovic's song is in the deseterac (ten syllable) style of Bosnian folksongs and he has cast his verse in rhymed couplets. Following is a translation of "THE ASSASSINATION OF JOHN KENNEDY" as far as Mr. Ramovic has carried it. He plans to add more verses later.
Here"s his song:
Not even the bird that makes it's nest coming
That the 20th century would herald sad news to all,
That on November 22nd,
Americans would be in great sorrow,
Echoes ring and phones buzz,
Tempests and storms appear,
Sad news spreads everywhere of America's severe misfortune
Grief has stirred the whole world,
Kennedy could not be rescued,
The powder was exploded,
The rifle fired from a high floor,
The steel bullet was swift,
That caused John's lethal wounds,
It struck his heroic head,
He met that bitter glory,
Grave pains overcame him,
Johnny fell in Jacqueline's arms,
That dear Jacqueline embraced him
With her white arms,
With a sick heart she embraced him,
To lighten his heavy pains,
With grave suffering darkening his face,
They went to Dallas (Parkland) Hospital,
Doctors offered help,
In vain, sad news is spreading,
That cursed steel bullet,
Has wounded Johnny mortally,
President Johnny has passed away,
He has left the earth forever,
The news is heard afar,
The world echoes sorrowing despair,
Kennedy is no more,
Despair,
John Kennedy is no more,
Dallas, Texas, what is happening in thee?
Why did you allow that hostile hand
That sniper to touch that firearm,
So that iron ignited the fire,
And struck John so cunningly,
Johnny has no more strength,
With a sick heart his breath slows,
Dead Johnny falls to earth,
And now Jacquiline suffers heavy grief,
A beautiful person, respected lady,
Stays alone without Johnny,
She never will forget him,
Johnny was like blooming flowers,
They tried to save him,
In unlucky Dallas Hospital,
The first aid given him,
Kept him not one hour,
The wound was mortal,
And the earth has seized him forever,
To rest for eternity,
For there was no cure for Johnny,
Now in sorrow many hearts were silent,
And they drove him to the White House,
To give him the last honors,
They know for certain John was gone
The caisson carries him,
With a white horse from the White House,
To the soldier's grave of heroes,
This is, Johnny, your eternal home.
The procession turns aside now,
Men of noble face,
All America grieves for him,
There are many foreign friends,
Many notables from abroad,
There are many from all sides,
The chieftains, czars and queens,
And many eminent guests,
To say farewell to the great hero,
Too many to enumerate,
The relatives go first,
With his wife Jacqueline,
In the line are two brothers now,
The grieving Robert next to brother Edward,
And his daughter Caroline,
Who is only 6 years old.
{Folks, please keep in mind that these are graphic depictions of the emotions of that sad era; that's what you are reading here! None of the revelations of recent years were known! There had been no other asssassinations yet. This, and the other assassination songs I've posted here, were SPONTANEOUS OPUTPOURINGS OF EMOTION TURNED TO POETRY by folks from all walks of life. They allow you to travel back in time!}
Art Thieme
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