Generations
SANWAL
Remember me when I am dead and simplify me when I'm dead. Keith Douglas GENERATIONS OR WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR GRANDAD? Brian Wright BBC World Service 1996 [WNYE] The poem written by World War Two Poet, Keith Douglas is the theme of this play: Simplify me when I'm Dead Remember me when I am dead and simplify me when I'm dead. As the processes of earth strip off the colour and the skin take the brown hair and blue eye 5 and leave me simpler than at birth when hairless I came howling in as the moon came in the cold sky. Of my skeleton perhaps so stripped, a learned man will say 10 'He was of such a type and intelligence,' no more. Thus when in a year collapse particular memories, you may deduce, from the long pain I bore the opinions I held, who was my foe 15 and what I left, even my appearance but incidents will be no guide. Time's wrong-way telescope will show a minute man ten years hence and by distance simplified. 20 Through that lens see if I seem substance or nothing: of the world deserving mention or charitable oblivion not by momentary spleen or love into decision hurled 25 leisurely arrive at an opinion. Remember me when I am dead and simplify me when I'm dead.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.