After 42 years: A Libyan American poet commemorates the overthrow of Kadafi

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Khaled Mattawa is a poet and a professor of creative writing at the University of Michigan. His latest book of poetry is "Tocqueville."

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Five years old when the dictator took over in a coup —

curfew shut our city down

Bloodless coup, they said —

The many who thought this could be good.

The dictator, a young man, a shy recluse assumed the helm, bent in piety,

the dead sun of megalomania hidden in his eyes.

Could not go to the store to buy bread or newspaper,

could not leave home, visit friends,

the radio thundering hatred, retching blood-curdling song —

Signs that went unread

Full Poem (page tabs above text): http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mattawa-poem-kadafi-20111025,0,7429712.story

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1. Kick for the arts.

:nopity:

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2. And final one...