Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Kalashnikov 'Wanted to Be Poet'(AK-47 Creator Was to Be The Next Wordsworth)
BBC ^ | 10 November 2009

Posted on 11/11/2009 9:17:38 AM PST by nickcarraway

The inventor of arguably the world's most infamous machine-gun wanted to be a poet in his youth, he has revealed.

Russian celebrities and politicians have been paying tribute to Mikhail Kalashnikov, who turned 90 on Tuesday, at a Kremlin reception.

Mr Kalashnikov is the inventor of the AK-47 assault rifle, beloved of guerrillas around the world.

At the ceremony, President Dimitry Medvedev handed Mr Kalashnikov the prestigious Hero of Russia award. Accepting the award, he fired off a brief patriotic poem he wrote.

'Bad poet'

Mr Kalashnikov is the author of six books, as well being an amateur poet.

"I wrote poetry in my youth, and people thought I would become a poet. But I didn't become one," he told reporters.

"There are many bad poets out there without me. I went along a different path," he said.

Over 100 million AK-47s are believed to be in circulation President Medvedev led the accolades saying the AK-47 assault rifle is "a national brand which evokes pride in each citizen".

He was also lauded from space in a specially recorded greeting from Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station.

Mr Kalashnikov designed the weapon after being wounded fighting the Nazis during World War II. His weapon can withstand the rugged demands of the battlefield better than any other, he said, but it was not his fault it had become so popular with insurgents and gangsters.

Over 100 million are believed to be in circulation. "I created a weapon to defend the fatherland's borders. It's not my fault that it was sometimes used where it shouldn't have been. This is the fault of politicians," he said.

SNIP

In recent years he has attempted to diversify the Kalashnikov brand - most famously with Kalashnikov vodka in 2004.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: History; Poetry; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: ak47; firearms; russia
This Is Just to Say

I have taken
the guns
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for guerrilla warefare

Forgive me
they were durable
and spit
lead so hot

(With my deepest apologies to William Carlos Williams)


1 posted on 11/11/2009 9:17:38 AM PST by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows; martin_fierro

Kalashnikov Vodka?! Was it under the Guerrilla’s Choice label?


2 posted on 11/11/2009 9:19:34 AM PST by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Verse, booze and lock ‘n load. Well, it aint sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, but he’d probably be a choice for a foxhole partner...


3 posted on 11/11/2009 9:21:09 AM PST by Jagman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
—yep—many a career was interrupted by WW 2--
4 posted on 11/11/2009 9:31:48 AM PST by rellimpank (--don't believe anything the MSM tells you about firearms or explosives--NRA Benefactor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Hiaku for the AK

All A K weapons
Tough, lethal;always cycle
damn how I hate you

5 posted on 11/11/2009 9:39:16 AM PST by China Clipper (My favorite animals usually are found next to the rice on my plate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: China Clipper

My haiku to you:

Don’t hate any rifle

Because it’s reliable

And could save your life


6 posted on 11/11/2009 10:06:55 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man
With all due respects
no rifle will save my *ss
It will be my brain!

7 posted on 11/11/2009 10:59:24 AM PST by China Clipper (My favorite animals usually are found next to the rice on my plate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: China Clipper

The smartest person

in the world can’t save himself

from bullets, unarmed


8 posted on 11/11/2009 2:37:06 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

We needed another poet like we needed a hole in the head.


9 posted on 11/11/2009 2:39:44 PM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Interesting packaging.


10 posted on 11/11/2009 5:03:30 PM PST by Cheburashka (Stephen Decatur: you want barrels of gunpowder as tribute, you must expect cannonballs with it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man
The best way to win
a firefight with guns blazing
is not to be there

11 posted on 11/11/2009 8:08:13 PM PST by China Clipper (My favorite animals usually are found next to the rice on my plate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: China Clipper

From your last reply

I believe I know your name

Captain Obvious


12 posted on 11/11/2009 8:23:55 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
The Russian rifle
Useless as semi-auto
get an SKS

13 posted on 11/23/2009 8:46:08 PM PST by StarfireIV (Atlas Punted)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson