Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s poem "News Report, September 1991: U.S. Buried Iraqi Soldiers Alive in Gulf" is a stark and harrowing reflection on the brutal realities of war, specifically the Gulf War. The poem uses fragments of reported speech to convey the chilling details of an incident where U.S. forces buried Iraqi soldiers alive. Through this collage of voices, Levertov critiques the dehumanizing language and callous attitudes that accompany military actions and their reportage.

The poem begins with a visceral image: "What you saw was a / bunch of trenches with / arms sticking out." This haunting description sets the tone for the poem, immediately confronting the reader with the grim aftermath of the battle. The mention of "arms sticking out" evokes a sense of horror and helplessness, suggesting the inescapable fate of those buried alive.

Levertov introduces military jargon and technical details: "Plows mounted on / tanks. Combat / earthmovers." These terms highlight the mechanized and impersonal nature of modern warfare. The use of machinery to bury soldiers alive underscores the efficiency and detachment with which such acts are carried out. The contrast between the clinical language of "combat earthmovers" and the visceral reality of "arms sticking out" underscores the disconnect between military operations and their human cost.

The poem continues with snippets of dialogue from military personnel: "Defiant." / "Buried." / "Carefully planned and / rehearsed." These words reveal the calculated nature of the operation, emphasizing that it was not an accident but a deliberate tactic. The repetition of these terms throughout the poem reinforces the systematic and premeditated nature of the atrocity.

The poem then shifts to the perspective of Colonel Moreno: "When we / went through there wasn't / anybody left." This statement, combined with the awarding of a Silver Star and the banning of reporters, suggests a desire to control the narrative and suppress the full extent of the atrocity. The absence of eyewitnesses and the emphasis on military commendations further highlight the disconnect between the official narrative and the gruesome reality on the ground.

Levertov includes chilling admissions from soldiers: "I know / burying people / like that sounds / pretty nasty, said / Colonel Maggart, / But . . ." and "A lot of the guys / were scared, he said, / but I / enjoyed it." These confessions reveal a disturbing ambivalence towards the act of burying soldiers alive, with some expressing discomfort while others take perverse pleasure in it. This juxtaposition of conflicting emotions underscores the moral ambiguity and psychological impact of war on those who participate in it.

The poem repeatedly references the "juggernaut," a term that conveys the unstoppable and overwhelming force of the U.S. military machine: "Every single American / was inside / the juggernaut / impervious / to small-arms / fire." This image of invulnerability contrasts sharply with the vulnerability of the buried soldiers, highlighting the asymmetry of power in the conflict. The "juggernaut" symbolizes the relentless and unfeeling nature of military power, crushing everything in its path.

Levertov also critiques the language of military strategy and cost-effectiveness: "I'm not / going to sacrifice / the lives / of my soldiers, / Moreno said, it's not / cost-effective." This cold calculus reduces human lives to mere numbers, prioritizing efficiency and minimizing losses on one side while disregarding the suffering inflicted on the other. The phrase "cost-effective" encapsulates the dehumanizing logic that underpins such military decisions.

The poem concludes with a grim tally of the dead: "Schwartzkopf's staff / privately / estimated fifty to seventy / thousand killed / in the trenches." This staggering figure, contrasted with the bureaucratic language of "privately estimated," underscores the scale of the atrocity and the efforts to downplay its significance.

In "News Report, September 1991: U.S. Buried Iraqi Soldiers Alive in Gulf," Denise Levertov uses fragmented reportage to expose the brutal reality of war and the dehumanizing language that accompanies it. Through a collage of voices, the poem critiques the moral and psychological impact of military actions, revealing the stark contrast between official narratives and the horrific human cost. Levertov’s powerful imagery and incisive commentary challenge readers to confront the true nature of war and its lasting consequences.

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