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Eastern Jackson County, MO —
Lincoln lives! His magnificent legacy shines even brighter.
Since the release of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster movie, “Lincoln,” there has been an inordinate amount of Lincoln history, vintage Lincoln movies, an opera and award shows on television.
It is estimated that there are 15,000 published items written about this presidential martyr.
The book “Lincoln At Gettysburg” was a gift on Sept. 27, 2001 by my retired grade school teacher Sister Mary Janet following my speaking engagement at the candlelight ceremony for the victims of United Flight 93 in Somerset County, Pa.
It inspired me to write “Two Hundred And Seventy-Two Words” and “Act Three Scene Two,” the former, a poem about Gettysburg, the latter, the night of his assassination at Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865 while watching the play “Our American Cousin.”
The popular play was a comedic farce about a boorish American who travels to England to claim his inheritance.
History records the last visual the president saw and heard before that black moment when John Wilkes Booth aimed his derringer.
According to Wikipedia, actor Harry Hawk, utters a line, considered one of the play’s funniest, to Mrs. Mountchessington: “Don’t know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal – you sockdologizing old man-trap.”
Then laughter, then a shot in
ACT THREE, SCENE TWO
Act three, scene two
On this historic Christian day
Of a man on a cross
Who died to lead the way.
Act three, scene two
Laughter filled the night
But a powder keg of doom
Was ready to ignite.
Act three, scene two
The finale of a man
An incomplete play
An evil treacherous hand.
Act three, scene two
A play to make one laugh
Not tonight, not ever more
For a country tom in half.
Act three, scene two
Was the last view with his wife
As he smiled upon an actor
While another took his life.
Act three, scene two
In 1865
From a Derringer .44
From a cause barely alive.
Act three, scene two
The villain took the stage
Spewing forth his deed
Then fled in fit of rage.
Act three, scene two
The specter of death drew near
To claim a president
That history would endear.
Act three, scene two
The finale of a man
The beginning of a legend
The Union still does stand.
Jerry Plantz lives in Lee’s Summit. His website is at www.Jerryplantz.com. Reach him at jerryplantz@msn.com.
Lincoln lives! His magnificent legacy shines even brighter.
Since the release of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster movie, “Lincoln,” there has been an inordinate amount of Lincoln history, vintage Lincoln movies, an opera and award shows on television.
It is estimated that there are 15,000 published items written about this presidential martyr.
The book “Lincoln At Gettysburg” was a gift on Sept. 27, 2001 by my retired grade school teacher Sister Mary Janet following my speaking engagement at the candlelight ceremony for the victims of United Flight 93 in Somerset County, Pa.
It inspired me to write “Two Hundred And Seventy-Two Words” and “Act Three Scene Two,” the former, a poem about Gettysburg, the latter, the night of his assassination at Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865 while watching the play “Our American Cousin.”
The popular play was a comedic farce about a boorish American who travels to England to claim his inheritance.
History records the last visual the president saw and heard before that black moment when John Wilkes Booth aimed his derringer.
According to Wikipedia, actor Harry Hawk, utters a line, considered one of the play’s funniest, to Mrs. Mountchessington: “Don’t know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal – you sockdologizing old man-trap.”
Then laughter, then a shot in
ACT THREE, SCENE TWO
Act three, scene two
On this historic Christian day
Of a man on a cross
Who died to lead the way.
Act three, scene two
Laughter filled the night
But a powder keg of doom
Was ready to ignite.
Act three, scene two
The finale of a man
An incomplete play
An evil treacherous hand.
Act three, scene two
A play to make one laugh
Not tonight, not ever more
For a country tom in half.
Act three, scene two
Was the last view with his wife
As he smiled upon an actor
While another took his life.
Act three, scene two
In 1865
From a Derringer .44
From a cause barely alive.
Act three, scene two
The villain took the stage
Spewing forth his deed
Then fled in fit of rage.
Act three, scene two
The specter of death drew near
To claim a president
That history would endear.
Act three, scene two
The finale of a man
The beginning of a legend
The Union still does stand.
Jerry Plantz lives in Lee’s Summit. His website is at www.Jerryplantz.com. Reach him at jerryplantz@msn.com.
