Stephen Schwartz — a lyrical biography

Editorial Note: For those curious to know a few biographical details about Stephen Schwartz (and see below), here is a great little poem that appeared on a Sufi discussion site around the time of the Kosovo war. All the links are inserted by myself: WHO IS THIS PERSON? Who is this person, this man Stephen Schwartz? a question that's asked by all manner and sorts A trade union man who ne'er mastered a trade Or a man of the sea, who not one voyage made An agent of anarchy in a radical cell Merely playing a role for a story to sell His passions confined to wars already lost To bleed for beliefs? far too high a cost With blood still being spilled for poor people's fate He chose the Spanish revolt, half-century too late All ongoing struggles and fighting and killing Were sidestepped with care by this warrior unwilling Devoid of real courage and anarchist zest He waged his revolt from the Cafe Trieste No explosions nor death, desert heat, jungle rains Just Latte's, Biscottis, and hemorroidal pains Comrade Sandalio walked away from the causes An insurgent impotent, he obeyed all the lawses But a new calling leapt from deep in his soul To pen biographique for whom the bell tolls At the obituary desk in the heart of the city Steve's secret life, just like Walter Mitty While cutting and pasting details of the dead To a war-ravaged land his fantasy led Overnight, so it seems, a New Cause did emerge Convert to Islam! An irrepressible urge! Cartoon-like comb-over, ellipsoidal bod Strange creature indeed, Suleyman ben Ahmad Fake revolutionary? No, no, not any more Now a make-believe journalist, bound for the war! And Steve's new religion and peaceful dictate Caused nary a pause in his spreading of hate We now see the dream of this red diaper boy To preach war on TV is his true pride and joy And no hawk so fierce, on the left or the right As one calling for War once he's too old to fight But, balding and bitter, Schwartz did what he can To wage holy war 'gainst beloved Islam Stephen's Black Book of Bad Men, those who plot and deceive Was it scripted for Ahmad in old Tel Aviv? A self-proclaimed Sufi peddling Sharon's agenda He tiptoes the high wire as if born a Wallenda He's rejected your culture; he's mocked it for years Now he calls for your sons to shed blood, sweat and tears Before waging a war from this charlatan's teaching Look up His Own History and what he's been preaching And there you will find amidst all of the rubble A life of Great Causes... but none worth your trouble. -------------- Mustafa Fazool California Big Wave Sufi