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Tolstoi, in Chechnya, on Lincoln (A true story)

 

                    -BGC

 

living away from civilized

life mountains fragmentary

childish comprehension 

fingers of civilization never reached

tribe beyond native

valleys dark Being

 

sat around floor

gazed hungering knowledge

spoke first Czars

victories foreign rulers

greatest military leaders


 

national heroes statesmen

history real giant

Alexander Frederick Great

Caesar Napoleon Gladstone

even Washington stand far behind

one man

 

They sat, Bored until Lincoln

 

saint 

of humanity whose

name will  live thousands of years

 leg­ends future generations still near

hardly appreciate divine

few centuries more

posterity find considerably

bigger genius strong

powerful common understanding

sun hot light

beams directly one

 

know lis­ten stories

parts world wild

places hears America

uttered such mystery

heaven hell heard



 

talk impress deeply

story interesting detail

instance hands looked


 

Tell please present

shouted others

saw faces aglow

eyes burning rude

really already legend

 

questions, answer wanted

 

belongs died prematurely

assassin condemn criminal

fate presentiment indications

strange dreams presentiments

tragic fact conceive prevented outcome universal

done prove convinced

instruments unknown follow bidding end apparent



 

immortal glory shines

 

moon­light example last

 

simplicity noble charity

 

freedom Love foundation

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