Mark
not much of an articulation this, but several people told me today, in all
seriousness, and with admiration, that McVeigh had 'written' a poem for the
occasion.
Needless to say I disabused them of the notion.
Oh, Authorship!!
Best
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Weiss" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2001 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: mcveigh's final statement
> OK, so the manic urge has taken me over, and I have a question (those who
> dislike extreme bad taste can skip this one):
>
> Among other things, McVeigh's statement is a form of publication. The poem
> is in the public domain. Suppose, instead, he had chosen something more
> recent, say, "In Memory of My Feelings." Would that be fair use under
> copyright law? Would news outlets have to pay royalties to O'Hara's estate
> to reprint it? Or would McVeigh's appropriation have changed its legal
status?
>
> There are poetry programs in the prisons. Should we also be promoting arts
> activism among death row inmates? Henley's poem, after all, is now being
> read by even more people than had to suffer through it in High School.
>
> Written through tears.
>
> Mark
>
> At 09:17 AM 6/11/2001 -0400, you wrote:
> >Timothy McVeigh was executed this morning by the United States
government,
> >the first federal prisoner to be executed since 1963. His final statement
> >was William Ernest Henley's poem "Invictus," published in 1875. Henley
was
> >26 when his poem was published. McVeigh died this morning age 33.
> >
> >
> >INVICTUS
> >
> >
> >OUT of the night that covers me,
> >Black as the pit from pole to pole,
> >I thank whatever gods may be
> >For my unconquerable soul.
> >
> >In the fell clutch of circumstance
> >I have not winced nor cried aloud.
> >Under the bludgeonings of chance
> >My head is bloody, but unbow'd.
> >
> >Beyond this place of wrath and tears
> >Looms but the Horror of the shade,
> >And yet the menace of the years
> >Finds and shall find me unafraid.
> >
> >It matters not how strait the gate,
> >How charged with punishments the scroll,
> >I am the master of my fate:
> >I am the captain of my soul.
> >
>
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