Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Day 214 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series
Sandburg writes: "When the Ahkoond of Swat passed away after a lingering illness, his last words were a message of felicitation to Abdul the Bulbul Ameer, his kinsman and host, that the reign and sway of that potentate might be long, illustrious, and filled with deeds of distinguished valor. This wish would have come true, in all likelihood, but for the sudden and dramatic entrance on the scene of Ivan Petruski Skivah, whose knife proved superior to the chibouque in the culmination of the violent conflict, the finish contest, or knockdown and dragout affair, as one might say, which ensued between these two bitter in classical opponents in classical language and diplomatic procedure. ...
"Of the victor's Muscovite morganatic bride, little is known save the fact that while prone on her couch and fast in the arms of Morpheus she was heard frequently to pronounce the words "Ivan Petruski Skivah.”. . . The song in which is enshrined this legend of two embittered opponents, is a familiar of robustious arid grandiloquent men in both metropolitan centers of urban activity and in wilderness outposts of the Northwest Mounted, so to speak; it is vocalized con amore equally well in tuxedo vest, flannel shirt or duck canvas pants. . . . As a serial tale it creates a climax which is hoist by its own petard . . . The plot gets thicker and thicker till it runs out of gas, discombobulates, and leaves two stuffed shirts in the wind."
Day 214 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series
Sandburg writes: "When the Ahkoond of Swat passed away after a lingering illness, his last words were a message of felicitation to Abdul the Bulbul Ameer, his kinsman and host, that the reign and sway of that potentate might be long, illustrious, and filled with deeds of distinguished valor. This wish would have come true, in all likelihood, but for the sudden and dramatic entrance on the scene of Ivan Petruski Skivah, whose knife proved superior to the chibouque in the culmination of the violent conflict, the finish contest, or knockdown and dragout affair, as one might say, which ensued between these two bitter in classical opponents in classical language and diplomatic procedure. ...
"Of the victor's Muscovite morganatic bride, little is known save the fact that while prone on her couch and fast in the arms of Morpheus she was heard frequently to pronounce the words "Ivan Petruski Skivah.”. . . The song in which is enshrined this legend of two embittered opponents, is a familiar of robustious arid grandiloquent men in both metropolitan centers of urban activity and in wilderness outposts of the Northwest Mounted, so to speak; it is vocalized con amore equally well in tuxedo vest, flannel shirt or duck canvas pants. . . . As a serial tale it creates a climax which is hoist by its own petard . . . The plot gets thicker and thicker till it runs out of gas, discombobulates, and leaves two stuffed shirts in the wind."
