LISTENINGS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 122, 24 October 1941, Page 14

LISTENINGS

Perpetrated and illustrated by

KEN.

ALEXANDER

Omar Tells Adolf !

ITLER is trying to gallop to Moscow before winter stiffens up his sinews of war. He knows that it’s "all-out" or "all-in" for him. He boasts that he already has Russia and Britain cracked in his pincers, Just the same, in case he should skid on the greasy road to glory, he thought it wise to scuttle off to Berlin to make a few precautionary quacks at the German goose which lays the highexplosive eggs. Twice during his quackery he used the expression, " When one day this war is over ." These are not the words of the Big Noise of the European cockpit. This is the whimper of the promoted paper-hanger plucking out his eyebrows while he mutters, "This year, next year, some time, never." His big-time patter-partner, Adolf-the-Grater, may stuff his ears with guncotton and hide’ his head in his own

smoke-screens, but Hitler-the-Littler who shares his bed and breakfast is always whispering things like "When," "But," and "If,"

It is evident that there is always a clash between Adolf-Blitzkrieg-Jove, who likes to roll thunderbolts down the slopes of Berchesgaden, and little Fatty Hitler who likes tea and cakes and gets the heebie jeebies at little things like bumping off his best friends. Inside Hitler there is a constant conflict between blood-and-iron and tea-and-cakes. Hot-headed Hitler follows the mailed fist and cold-footed Hitler fears the pointing finger. That the finger is greater than the fist was pointed out*by Persia’s great Khayyam long before the advent of Germany’s great I-am. The restful Omar issued a caution to all Hitlers that what’s writ stays writ. No wonder Hitler -the Littler wishes that he’d never gone to school. Hear Omar! ; ; The moving finger writes; and having writ, Moves on; nor all the piety nor wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, : Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it. Then Omar follows with a pertinent punch by asking, "Who is the potter, pray, and who the pot?" That is a query that has baffled many a pottier potter than the potter of Potsdam. Adolf fears that he may prove to be the pot-and a cracked pot at that. Then Omar leads with a straight left ‘to Adolf’s band of hope just to prove that what’s in the news to-day is in the ash-can to-morrow. It might have been specially prepared for Hitler: The worldly hope men set their hearts upon Turns ashes — or it prospers; and anon, Like snow upon the desert’s dusty face SOE Lighting a little hour or two-is gone. Omar knew about Time’s blitzkrieg long before Hitler claimed the patent rights. He could have told Adolf all about the hopelessness of hope and the celerity with which success speeds to the churchyard.

He could have explained how easy it is for one to "get the bird" even when the bird is on the wing. So: Come, fill the cup, and In the fire of spring * The winter garment of repentance fling; The bird of time Has but a little way to fyAnd lo! the bird is on the wing. It will take more than the winter garment of repentance to keep Hitler warm in Russia. It’s cold in them thar hills,