Although Garé and Carl Barks worked closely
together all of their married lives they were never credited
together in any professional, published material. Except on one
single occasion! Sometime early in their marriage - presumably in
1955 - they wrote a special poem which was published in the local
Hemet News on December 26. The poem, which was mentioned as a
lament, offers a very strong contribution to the (still!) ongoing
debate on giving children firearms at a tender age. The couple's
views on the subject becomes blatantly clear in this very
atypical poem that lies miles from their usual artistic
endeavours.
On the other hand there can be little doubt that the poem had a
profound impact in the small community, where the Barkses were
highly valued for their social commitments and contributions to
the society. From reading the lament it is easy to see, though,
that the couple were not accustomed to writing poems, but you can
also sense Carl's eminent ability to slowly build up to the final
crescendo, a technique he used repeatedly in his comic book
stories.
In a note to the editor the couple wrote: We've put some post-Christmas notes into verse. The poem is called 'The Day After Christmas', and here it is. Indeed! Apart from the initial publishing the poem is presented here for the first time ever!
No part of this poem may be published in any form without clear reference to this website! |
'Twas the day after
Christmas And all over the map, Not a creature was stirring Unless he was a sap. The B-Bs and bullets Richocheted through the trees, Where kids with their new guns Were busy as bees. Johnny
and Joey and Margery too, Yes, the day after
Christmas The warbler that sang with
me The thrushes and finches A dad beamed with pride So perhaps it would add Carl and Garé
Barks |
The couple ended the unusual poem - which appropriately was published under the heading Open Court - with this message to the editor: If you've read this far, we hope you'll agree with the ideas expressed and that some of your readers will also agree with a couple of artists turned poets.
http://www.cbarks.dk/THEPOEM.htm | Date 2008-09-01 |