Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Young of Tiananmen" by Meena Alexander is a powerful and evocative poem that commemorates the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in Beijing, China. The poem is a tribute to the young protesters who stood up against the Chinese government, demanding democracy and freedom. Through vivid imagery and emotional language, Alexander captures the courage, sacrifice, and tragedy of the events that unfolded during the protests.

The poem opens with the speaker expressing a desire to write in crimson, a color symbolizing both passion and bloodshed. This choice of color sets the tone for the poem, highlighting the intensity and violence of the confrontation. The "garlands of orchids, roses blood-sucking Venus Trap flowers" represent the beauty and vitality of the young protesters, juxtaposed with the predatory and dangerous nature of the situation they faced.

Alexander repeats the motif of the young with "black silken hair," a reference to the Chinese students and citizens who participated in the protests. They are depicted as fearless and determined, symbolically unstrapping fear from their bodies and raising it like a banner. The refrain "China, newborn China, be our shield" reflects the protesters' hope for a new, reformed China that would protect and value its citizens.

The second stanza introduces darker elements with indigo ink, evoking images of injury, pain, and death ("garlands of hooks, eyes, burst bone, torn cartilage mucus that shines with death"). This stark imagery conveys the brutality of the government's response to the peaceful protests, as tanks rolled in and guns and tear gas were used against the unarmed demonstrators.

The poem then contrasts the youthful protesters with "old men with glue in their bones, wax in their hip sockets," likely referring to the aged and rigid government officials who ordered the crackdown. The description of the violent suppression ("Tanks rolled, guns coughed tear gas choked them") is both vivid and haunting, capturing the horror of the massacre.

The speaker, writing from "a far country," emphasizes the global impact of the Tiananmen Square protests. The line "As blood swallowed them whole they became our blood" suggests that the sacrifice of the young protesters has a universal significance, uniting people across the world in their struggle for freedom and justice.

The closing lines question the adequacy of language to honor the memory of the "young of Tiananmen." The poem itself becomes a form of ink, a way to inscribe and remember the courage and sacrifice of those who stood up for their beliefs, despite the overwhelming odds and tragic outcome.

Overall, "The Young of Tiananmen" is a poignant and powerful tribute to the protesters of Tiananmen Square, capturing the essence of their struggle and ensuring that their voices and sacrifices are not forgotten.

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