Plaques and Graffiti

By luigi_pagano

Thu, 21 Jan 2016
  • 997 reads
4 comments
 

Number 33, The Paragon, Bath.
A bronze plaque on a house wall
says: "Here dwelt Sarah Siddons".
A concise and dignified tribute
to a well known English actress
famous for playing Lady Macbeth.

In contrast, just a simple graffito
celebrates the eponymous Kilroy.
We are told that he ‘was here’
but that could’ve been anywhere.
The name has been bandied about
and it has become very popular.

More popular in fact than Sarah’s
and the better known of the two;
it is chalked on walls everywhere
yet the signature differs a lot:
in the U.K. he is called Mr Chad,
and  Down Under he’s labelled Foo.

Fame is considered ephemeral,
fifteen minutes says Andy Warhol,
but not even the meanest killjoy
can deny Kilroy’s lasting legacy

© Luigi Pagano 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Made me look up about the phrase. I hadn't heard it. The picture that seems to be associated with it was used for 'What no  … ?' when I was young, and from what I read now, it's the same thing??

My grandfather was one of the early trade unionists and labour MPs and very popular in his home town for amateur local history columns/books and had been a mayor, and after he died a plaque was put on his old house (just a mid-terrace house). Unfortunately I think his surname, which had an unusual spelling (my own maiden name) was misspelt! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

"Kilroy was here" is an American popular culture expression that became popular during World War II and it is typically seen in graffiti.
The Mr.Chad image with the motto 'Wot, no...' was meant to represent the shortage of some commodity but when combined with the Kilroy caption it became a symbol of American GIs presence, especially in Europe. See:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=kilroy+was+here&tbm=isch&imgil=igx_wGR...

It is unfortunate that your father's name was misspelt on the plaque, Rhiannon, but at least his worth was acknowledged.

Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

I liked this and the thinking it made me do. 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Thanks for your comment, Helen.
The contrast certainly makes one think.

Luigi x