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Late S. Krishnamachary *

(13-6-1925 � 16-9-2004)

Laughter, Loud laughter!
You jolt me out of moods.
For you, my feelings do not matter,
You continue still louder, thereafter.

Oh! Laughter! Sometimes you tickle me,
to a feeling of sorrow or anger.
Sometimes you laugh as if to beat me,
Sometimes you laugh just to snub me.

Oh! Laughter! it is your pleasure,
to show vain superiority over me.
In my woe have you any treasure?
Why do you spoil my peaceful leisure?

Oh! Laughter! It may be for fun,
you tease me and drive me mad.
Your steps you advance, to shoot me with gun.
You know not, all affection you shun.

Oh! Laughler! You twist your mustache,
With open pride to thwart my good deeds
as if to say, with venom, mine is thrash.
Why do you destroy my confidence in a flash?

Can’t you be gentle like your sister, Smile?
Can’t you be welcoming like a friend?
Can’t you stop annoying sound for a while?
Can’t you put aside all your wicked guile?

Oh! Laughter! I abhor your open mouth wide.
Oh Laughter! Why open prejudice?
Oh Laughter! Why hollow pride?
Oh Laughter! Why this wicked stride?

* His last Poem.

One Friday afternoon, June 2, 1944 Winston Churchill dropped into General Eisenhower’s camp and suggested that he should go along with the assault forces on D-Day. Eisenhower at first passed off the Prime Minister’s remark as a joke, but Churchill returned to the point. Finally Eisenhower said flatly that Churchill could not go. He reminded the Prime Minister that if he were lost, things would be disorganised in Britain and the whole military operation would be endangered.

Churchill was persistent. “After all� he said, “I am the Minister for National Defence. I can put myself aboard a British ship as an officer. Even the supreme commander (Eisenhower) cannot dictate the complement of a British Naval Officer.�

Call came from the Buckingham Palace. The King said on the telephone: Under no circumstances was Mr. Churchill to consider going to France on D-Day.

- ‘The World’s Great Eventsâ€� - Volume 10Ìý