From Here to Eternity

      

More than half a century ago, at the age of black-and-white films, you'll likely stumble upon a classic -- a well-written story line topped with glamorous actors-- that made Hollywood.  They don't make them like that these days.  Based on the 1950s novel, From Here to Eternity is in cinema history a critically acclaimed film, known notoriously for a love scene on the beach.  Two love birds, (actors Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr) escape frolicking about at the beach with the tide of the ocean wave hitting them as they wrap around each other, enraptured in each other.  Once controversial scene, but not so bad today, wouldn't you say?  Time changes our perception.  The Academy Award-winning movie and its scene on the beach is one of cinema's most memorable clip.  Take a look at the Hollywood legends that once were:  Actors graved onto films of the bygone era before dot com, computer technology—a stark contrast to today's 'just about anybody' are cast in the movies.       

The story, based on an infantry in Hawaii, movie-goers live the days leading up to attack on Pearl Harbor.  Quiet, sunny days shape the island like paradise for tourist's attraction, but that won't be that way too long.  An attack on the harbor changes U.S. history, forever. 
    

I wrote a poem inspired by the film after finish watching the film (catch one other language here:  ad libitum, Latin for 'at your will'):




From Here to Eternity  

Place of palm trees, a gentle breeze sweeps,

Palms leaves nod, roll with fleeting sea wind,

Place of quiet waterfront, sandbank’s wayfarers flee,

Elysium, a peaceful locus to jaunt, put up your feet,

 

 

Close by, a campus seats,

Miles out, a hot spot to quaff, bebop, sing,

Army of soldiers march to the drill,

Beckoned by the blare of trumpets—they trail,

 

 

Men of infantry march by command in ship-shape,

Men rack up their rifles, prep balls,

Brawl, toggle like hens scurrying pell-mell,

Elysium, a peaceful locus to jaunt, put up your feet,

 

 

Nights out, men mingle at the club, stripe,

Chum, consort with their fellow brothers,

Revel at large in the night freely—elate,

Convivial on this night—young and stellar!

 

 

Then early morning on vestige of summer’s cape,

Sudden air raid ensues on the hushed harbor,

Days are ahead, but this place under aerial raids, spells,

Place of palm trees, a gentle breeze sweeps,

 

 

Fire away!  Artillery raids spread men to dash, gape,

Fire Away!  Mob of soldiers swarm like maggets bother,

Fire Away!  Arise in the sky, a black smolder,

Place of quiet waterfront, sandbank is wayfarers flee,

 

 

Gone now are the days, as Avernus bleaks,

Back to palmy breeze, gentle waves, and winds,

Island of little, but a paradise, arms hinge,

High tides shores, waves rush then onto the beach,

 

 

Hear the hymn, the weeping cry, near shrill,

Close your eyes, give ears, offer prayers of hope,

Cries of the fallen from here to eternity lies deceased, 

Place of quiet waterfront, sandbank is wayfarers flee.