A turn of a phrase.
Many years ago, in a book review, I found the following poem (or part of a poem), which I copied and saved. I know it's by Bertold Brecht, but other than that I have no idea of where it's from, and my original notes are long lost. I've tried to find it numerous times - unsuccessfully. I remember that the book review had another example of the same literary ploy, and I'm sure I copied it as well, but again, it's lost. So all that's left is an unidentified snippet. But to my mind it remains an excellent example of how putting the cart before the horse (even when we're not sure which is which) can have tremendous influence on meaing.
It won't change the world
It won't improve the relations among men
It will not shorten the age of exploitation
But a few men have a bed for the night
For a night the wind is kept from them
The snow meant for them falls on the roadway.
A few men have a bed for the night
For a night the wind is kept from them
The snow meant for them falls on the roadway
But it won't change the world
It won't improve the relations among men
It will not shorten the age of exploitation.
I've succeeded in finding one reference to the poem on the web. This example includes one additional line (which to my mind ruins the poem), but it does give it a name: A Bed for the Night. That at least gives me a handle from which to continue a search.
Go to: Justin - again, and again, and ..., or
Go to: Almost a part of me, or
Go to: Get a Life!