Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"One: 28" by E.E. Cummings is a stark and poignant reflection on human indifference, social decay, and the fragility of existence. The poem depicts a man who has "fallen among thieves" and is left by the roadside in a state of complete degradation, both physically and mentally. Cummings uses vivid, often grotesque imagery to explore themes of abandonment, alienation, and the failure of societal compassion.

The poem begins with a biblical allusion to the parable of the Good Samaritan, where a man who "had fallen among thieves" is left lying by the roadside. However, instead of receiving help, this man is ignored, symbolizing society's failure to care for those who have been marginalized or victimized. The man is described as "dressed in fifteenthrate ideas / wearing a round jeer for a hat," suggesting that his thoughts and beliefs are worn-out, mocked, and dismissed by society. His "round jeer" symbolizes not only his mockery by others but also possibly his own cynical view of the world.

Fate, depicted as capricious and indifferent, has "in return for consciousness / endowed him with a changeless grin." This fixed grin could represent a forced, hollow expression, a mask that the man wears in the face of his suffering, or perhaps a sign of his complete resignation to his condition.

The "dozen staunch and leal / citizens" who pass by the man represent the so-called respectable members of society. These citizens "graze at pause," meaning they briefly notice him but are not moved to action. Instead, they are "fired by hypercivic zeal" and move on to "newer pastures," which could suggest that they are more concerned with their own self-righteousness and civic duties than with actually helping someone in need. This critique of societal apathy is central to the poem, as it shows how people often prioritize their own lives and concerns over the suffering of others.

The man's condition is described in harrowing detail: "swaddled with a frozen brook / of pinkest vomit out of eyes / which noticed nobody." His eyes, unable to focus on anyone, indicate his isolation and the extent of his physical and emotional collapse. The image of "frozen brook / of pinkest vomit" is both vivid and disturbing, symbolizing the man's complete loss of vitality and the grotesque reality of his situation.

Despite his dire state, the man "looked / as if he did not care to rise," indicating a deep sense of hopelessness or perhaps acceptance of his fate. His hand, doing "nothing on the vest," and the other "clenched weakly dirt," further emphasize his powerlessness and detachment from life. The "mute trouserfly" with its "button solemnly inert" adds to the sense of decay and lifelessness, underscoring his vulnerability and the loss of his humanity.

In a moment of compassion, the speaker decides to act: "Brushing from whom the stiffened puke / i put him all into my arms." This act of lifting the man is described as a struggle, "staggered banged with terror through / a million billion trillion stars." The use of cosmic imagery here contrasts with the man's earthly degradation, suggesting that the speaker's act of compassion is monumental, even in the vast, indifferent universe. The "terror" the speaker feels may reflect the overwhelming nature of confronting such abject suffering or the existential weight of trying to help in a world where help is often absent.

"One: 28" by E.E. Cummings is a powerful meditation on human suffering and the often inadequate response of society. Through its vivid, unsettling imagery and its exploration of both indifference and compassion, the poem challenges readers to consider their own roles in the face of others' suffering. It asks whether we, like the "staunch and leal citizens," will simply move on to "newer pastures," or whether we will have the courage to confront the suffering around us, even when it terrifies and overwhelms us.

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