On 21-22 November,1963, President John F. Kennedy
and Jackie stayed at the Hotel Texas, Fort Worth.
There was morning drizzle when JFK went outside
to give a short speech; there was sunlight.
Inside the hotel there was a warm welcome
given by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
The confident MC offered JFK a stetson there,
which he accepted, smiling, but would not wear.
John F. Kennedy gave a witty but uplifting speech:
'No one expects that our life will be easy;
certainly not in this decade, maybe not in this century.
I will resist nuclear war and preserve world peace.'
The President boarded Air Force One at Carswell,
touching down at 11: 40 am at Love Field, Dallas.
There were crowds along the fence-line, holding up
pro- and- anti-JFK signs, ambivalence in the air.
At midday I saw President Kennedy get into the back seat
of a Lincoln Convertible, without the bulletproof bubbletop.
I saw large, enthusiastic crowds on both sides of Main Street,
but fewer by Houston Street and Elm Street: I was there.
There were just a few spectators on the grassy knoll,
when the Hertz digital clock ticked over to 12: 30 pm.
Right then I heard the first gunshot from the rear,
then two more rapid-fire shots that ended a dream.
I found the speech that the President had for the Trade Mart:
''We in this country, in this generation, are- by destiny
rather than choice-the watchmen on the walls of world freedom.
..''For as was written long ago, ' except the Lord keep the city,
'the watchman waketh but in vain'.' ''
- June,2016.(John F. Kennedy,1917-1963) .
Michael, a wonderful poem! ! ! I remember that day, for every one, time stopped. I had missed a school day, home on the farm, sick in bed. Mother came to my room, gave me the news. I went downstairs, my mother and I watching the news, on our 1 channel TV. A deserving 10.
I appreciate your singular comment Darwin. In the weekend I read 'Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye', By K. O'Donnell and Dave Powers-a good book by two his aides. I also read 'The Dark Side of Camelot', by Seymour Hersh. I have read very many books about the assassination too. JFK continues to fascinate me, not quite the hero worship of my youth, but admiration for a man of strengths and weaknesses.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
an interesting sad poem of a shocking event were the truth is still to be revealed? ............well written.
Yes, it was a sad elegy about a very sad event. Some say that the full truth is yet to be revealed: others say it has been. I think that all the truth would be known had Oswald not been shot and he had then been given a fair trial. What Ruby did was totally unjustified and actually covered up the truth. Thanks for your comment, Tom.