I will miss Donald Rumsfeld

Rumsfeld's pronouncements always had the ring of poetry, as Hart Seely so capably demonstrated years ago. (See also here.) One of my favorite Rumsfeldisms: "Clarity."

I think what you'll find,
I think what you'll find is,
Whatever it is we do substantively,
There will be near-perfect clarity
As to what it is.

And it will be known,
And it will be known to the Congress,
And it will be known to you,
Probably before we decide it,
But it will be known.

Such perfect epistrophe, such a ringing conclusion.

One of my favorite lessons is to have my students read these poems--without attribution or identification--and judge them as poetry. If they find them profound, I laugh uproariously. (On the inside.)