Haverhill

‘Liar,’ by Poet Comeau Enlightens a Classroom, If Not All of Us

By |

Editor’s Note: Haverhill native and poet Raymond F. Comeau has been mulling over truth and its seemingly more-present-than-ever counterpart and shares his thoughts in one of his recent poems, “Liar.”

He takes readers inside of an elementary school classroom where a familiar scene is playing out between teacher and pupil. The teacher digs into the child’s response to a question and the entire classroom learns a valuable lesson. Readers may well find themselves in the student’s seat, expressing what their answers might be. Comeau says the poem is “meant to remind and warn the public that we are living in a society deluged by lies from many sources.” He cites such sources as social media, conspiracy theories across many platforms, false narratives, political messaging and internet crime. Now of Belmont, Comeau is a retired dean and current lecturer at Harvard University Extension School.

Haverhill

Comeau Urges Vigilance in Latest Poem, ‘Ensnared by a Con’

By |

Editor’s Note: Dr. Raymond F. Comeau, a Haverhill native and poet, observes the holiday season offers greater potential for con artists. In his latest poem, “Ensnared by a Con,” Comeau doesn’t specifically define the criminal, leaving to readers and listeners to paint within their own minds a picture of the con—whether the common thief or perhaps one cloaked in religious, business or political trappings. The cautionary tale notes how modern tech plays enabling roles, but suggests naiveté is an essential ingredient in the dishonest act’s success. It has always been rooted in deception or even unchallenged exaggeration as seen in German writer Rudolf Erich Raspe’s comical works of war successes by the fictional Baron von Münchhausen.

Now of Belmont, Comeau is a retired dean and current lecturer at Harvard University Extension School. He is also a trustee, emeritus, of the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill.

Haverhill

Poet Comeau’s ‘Ghouls A-Coming’ Expresses Worry of Oppressive History Repeating

By |

The latest work of Dr. Raymond F. Comeau, a Haverhill native and poet, takes readers on a short, distressing and timely trip through the history of cruel oppression and successful resistance. Each reader will identify their own villains and heroes in Comeau’s “Ghouls A-Coming,” but historical candidates include France’s King Louis XVI, who oversaw economic collapse and social upheaval, leading to the French Revolution. The more recent collapse of East Germany after years of citizen abuse by the Stasi secret police may come to mind. Comeau calls out fascists Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini by name and worries aloud the ghouls could be released from graveyards. Now of Belmont, Comeau is a retired dean and current lecturer at Harvard University Extension School.

Haverhill

Poet Comeau Releases ‘The President and the Sheik,’ a Fable About Democracy

By |

Haverhill native and poet Raymond F. Comeau reminds us of the fragility of democracy in his latest work, “The President and the Sheik,” which he describes as a fable in the tradition of Aesop and La Fontaine. Comeau selected Michelangelo’s Renaissance sculpture of David as a visual to represent the poem. David, looking toward Rome, has come to represent civil liberties in the Republic of Florence, an independent city-state threatened on all sides by more powerful rival states. Comeau notes many democracies have fallen, citing as more recent examples, Germany, Italy, Chile, Argentina and the Philippines. Comeau, now of Belmont, is a retired dean and current lecturer at Harvard University Extension School.

Haverhill

Poet Comeau Tells a Cautionary Tale in His Latest, ‘Unfinished Story’

By |

Editor’s note: Haverhill native and poet Raymond F. Comeau recently released a poem he calls “Unfinished Story.”

Comeau reaches into history to tell a cautionary tale of a king’s abuse of power that turns, in his words, “followers into serfs.” The poem begs the question, Will the subjects of the crown rise up and take back their inherent rights? Adding to its contemporary significance, the “Unfinished Story” comes the year before the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution that overthrew British rule under King George III. Comeau, now of Belmont, is a retired dean and current lecturer at Harvard University Extension School. He is also a trustee, emeritus, of the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill. Unfinished Story
There was once in a fabulous land
A free people who elected a king
Charismatic and brimming with lies
He ruled by sowing discord
A bowling ball scattering pins
Turning Christians into anti-Christs
And followers into serfs
Pledging fealty and doing his will
Now imagine if you would
This story going on
More rumbles with justice
In forums that count
More battle declarations
Against foes of lesser bulk
More vengeance more lies
And suffering without a thought
All noted on page upon page
Will it also be written
That people stood up
© Raymond Comeau January 2025

Haverhill

Poet Comeau’s Latest ‘Standing Up’ Urges Truthful Action in Spirit of Whittier and Other Greats

By |

Editor’s note: Haverhill native and poet Raymond F. Comeau’s latest work, “Standing Up,” encourages citizens to think about the value of truth and freedom in a democracy and compels them to act for the benefit of all. The poet alludes to Haverhill’s favorite son, poet John Greenleaf Whittier who stood up himself against political corruption, worker exploitation and slavery. Comeau, now of Belmont, is a retired dean and current lecturer at Harvard University Extension School. He is also a trustee, emeritus, of the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill. STANDING UP
Danger was there
Even as a child
When you crawled like a lizard
At the mercy of every rug
Then struggled to climb the couch
And finally
You took a single wobbly step
That changed it all
For grown-ups it’s a different scene
A job a reputation
Family and plans
Cicero stood up in ancient Rome
Making the sacrifice
For us the likes of King Thoreau
Whittier and Parks
Now we’re the ones
Will lies humiliate truth
Tyranny freedom
And silence democracy
© Raymond Comeau December 2024

Haverhill

Poet Comeau’s ‘The Children’ Speaks to the Juxtaposition of War and Hope

By |

Editor’s note: “The Children” one of the latest works of Haverhill native and poet Raymond Comeau speaks to both the horror of war and the hope of Christmas. The timely poem acknowledges the tragedies and devastation in Gaza and Ukraine, but extends calming, if not thought-provoking, words. Comeau, now of Belmont, is a retired dean and current lecturer at Harvard University Extension School. He is also a trustee, emeritus, of the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill. THE CHILDREN
Where are they now
The children
Mashed
Like bloody potatoes
In Gaza Ukraine
And hellholes around the world
And buried in boxes as shabby as war
Then gone
Except for a few grieving hearts
But where are they now
Would you believe
That each is a sun
In heaven
Singing and praying
Like the angels they are
For us
©Raymond Comeau December 2024

Haverhill

Poet Comeau Offers ‘A Note to Politicians on Beautiful Truth’ in Latest Work

By |

Haverhill native and poet Raymond F. Comeau has been reflecting on the world around us—both the natural one and the one people create. His latest work, “A Note to Politicians on Beautiful Truth,” speaks to the times and the intersection of suffering and words. Now of Belmont, Comeau is a retired dean and current lecturer at Harvard University Extension School. He is also a trustee, emeritus, of the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill. He read some of his works last month when the Haverhill River Bards met in downtown Haverhill.