Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Znamenskaya Square, Leningrad, 1941" by Sharon Olds paints a stark and haunting picture of the grim realities faced during the Siege of Leningrad, a harrowing period in World War II where the city was besieged and subjected to severe shortages of food and heat. The poem focuses on a scene of immense tragedy and stark survival, encapsulating the horrors of war and its devastating impact on civilians.

The poem opens with an image of an "older girl" pulling a "thin tin sled" through the streets, a seemingly innocent activity that quickly takes on a harrowing significance. The use of "thin tin" emphasizes the fragility and makeshift nature of the sled, hinting at the desperation and scarcity of resources during the siege. The initial ambiguity of the scene invites the reader to "look awhile to see" the true nature of the cargo: "a child's body wrapped in burlap," described metaphorically as a "huge burnt potato."

This metaphor, likening the child's body to a "burnt potato," conveys both the physical state of the child—emaciated, lifeless, and darkened by suffering—and the harshness of the conditions. The burlap, "rough as a creased loaf, dark as a tuber with soil still stuck to it," further accentuates the image of something discarded, something that has returned to the earth. This comparison draws a stark parallel between the child and common, everyday items, underscoring the dehumanizing effects of the extreme conditions.

As the reader becomes aware of the details, the "terrible ball of the head," the "swell of the arms," and "the shallow crease between the legs," the true horror of the scene becomes apparent. The child's body, wrapped in burlap, is being transported to an "overflow cemetery," highlighting the overwhelming death toll and the breakdown of normal funerary rites. The mother follows behind, holding a "strap looped under the ankles" to prevent the body from slipping off the sled, a poignant and heartbreaking detail that underscores the care and love still present in this dire situation.

The scene unfolds against the backdrop of a city in crisis. The mention of the "crowd waiting for a trolley, a black wall of backs" evokes a sense of anonymity and collective suffering, as the people endure the bitter cold and hunger. The image of "no heat, no food, no horse, no cross, no lily to open over the dead" conveys the absolute destitution faced by the city's inhabitants. The absence of a "cross" and "lily"—symbols of faith, resurrection, and purity—emphasizes the lack of solace, the stripping away of both physical necessities and spiritual comforts.

The poem concludes with the powerful imagery of the lily's "loose yellow cornmeal dust," a metaphor for the flower's pollen, which contrasts sharply with the absence of life and sustenance. This final image serves as a poignant reminder of the normalcy and beauty lost amid the destruction, highlighting the barren and bleak reality faced by the people of Leningrad.

Sharon Olds' "Znamenskaya Square, Leningrad, 1941" is a moving portrayal of the profound loss and suffering experienced during the Siege of Leningrad. The poem's stark, unflinching imagery captures the rawness of human despair and the brutal realities of war, where the dead are carried to their final resting places in whatever manner is available. Through her vivid and heartbreaking depiction, Olds provides a powerful commentary on the impact of war on the most vulnerable, and the resilience of those who must carry on in the face of overwhelming adversity.

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