Le Retour A La Raison (The Return Of Reason) Poem by Dónall Dempsey

It was to be
the Gala Dada-Arts soirée

of
1923

July the 5th
near the Opera

at the Theatre
Michel

but it turned
out to be

a famous free-for-all
brawl.

Artistic differences
you understand.

Andre Breton
(the arch Surrealist)

not taking to the play
of Tristan Tzara
(the Dada of them all)

upstages the play
jumps on stage

berates &
boxes Crevel’s ears

roundly
and then rounds on

Pierre de Masset
breaking his arm
with his waking cane.

The actors hampered
by the solid cardboard costumes

make efforts to flee
with tiny tiny steps.

So many poets
fighting with such relish

even the usually docile
Paul Eluard

whilst fiercely attacking
Tzara

collapses into the footlights
smashing several lights

until finally
police have to be called

to break up
the poetic riot.

The Theatre
(all respectable and Bourgeois)
is left
gasping

“Bloody poets! ”

Its seats torn open
& hanging loose.

Rock ‘n’ roll
before Rock ‘n’ Roll
has even come about.

It’s as Dada & Surreal
as it can get
just sorting out a few ideological differences...you understand.