Living in a wide landscape are the flowers -
Rosenberg I only repeat what you were saying -
the shell and the hawk every hour
are slaying men and jerboas, slaying
the mind: but the body can fill
the hungry flowers and the dogs who cry words
at nights, the most hostile things of all.
But that is not new. Each time the night discards
draperies on the eyes and leaves the mind awake
I look each side of the door of sleep
for the little coin it will take
to buy the secret I shall not keep.
I see men as trees suffering
or confound the detail and the horizon.
Lay the coin on my tongue and I will sing
of what the others never set eyes on.
Leave a guest comment (subject to review)
Comments
-
I admire how Douglas uses images and emotions to great effect in this poem. War cost lives, and Douglas expresses that in this poem. He knew first hand what war meant and I think his ability to capture the experience will serve as an everlasting testiment to war's ugly realities. Line 13 is unique: "I see men as trees suffering"; Lines 8-12 are so dynamic in approach of a difficult subject matter; I had to look up what jerboas were and found it interesting that Douglas linked the small creatures with the slaying of men. Selecting an animal so closely linked with the ground further reinforces the image of death of men/earth/nature.
-
oldpoetry.com/Authors/Isaac%20Rosenberg
this poem pays homeage to Rosenberg, whose War poetry may be found at the above link.
Adding your comment:
