Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Randall Jarrell's poem "A Front" captures the tense and haunting atmosphere of a military airbase during World War II. Through vivid imagery and a keen sense of sound and movement, Jarrell conveys the uncertainty, danger, and isolation faced by bomber crews as they navigate through the fog and darkness.

The poem begins with a setting shrouded in fog: "Fog over the base: the beams ranging / From the five towers pull home from the night." This image sets a somber and eerie tone, with the searchlights from the towers cutting through the fog, attempting to guide the returning bomber crews safely back to base. The phrase "pull home from the night" evokes a sense of effort and struggle, as if the beams are physically drawing the crews out of the enveloping darkness.

Jarrell then describes the bombers' approach with a striking simile: "The crews cold in fur, the bombers banging / Like lost trucks down the levels of the ice." This comparison to "lost trucks" emphasizes the disorientation and mechanical nature of the bombers, highlighting the challenges of navigating through the harsh, icy conditions. The crews, bundled in fur against the cold, add a human element to the scene, underscoring their vulnerability.

The following lines introduce a mysterious glow that transforms into the tangible forms of the bombers: "A glow drifts in like mist (how many tons of it?), / Bounces to a roll, turns suddenly to steel / And tyres and turrets, huge in the trembling light." The transition from an ethereal glow to the solid reality of the aircraft is both surreal and powerful, capturing the moment when the bombers emerge from the fog into visibility. The "trembling light" adds to the sense of instability and tension.

One bomber struggles to land, described with a sense of futility: "The next is high, and pulls up with a wail, / Comes round again - no use. And no use for the rest / In drifting circles out along the range." The repetition of "no use" underscores the difficulty and danger of the situation. The bombers, unable to land, are forced to circle aimlessly, increasing their risk and prolonging their ordeal.

As the poem progresses, the decision is made to divert the flights southward: "Holding no longer, changed to a kinder course, / The flights drone southward through the steady rain." This shift to a "kinder course" suggests a retreat to safer conditions, but it also reflects the harsh reality of war, where not all missions can be completed as planned. The steady rain adds to the bleak and somber mood.

The base is closed, but one voice persists: "But one voice keeps on calling, / The lowering pattern of the engines grows; / The roar gropes downward in its shaky orbit / For the lives the season quenches." This voice, possibly from a radio or a commander, continues to seek contact with the struggling bombers. The "lowering pattern of the engines" and the "shaky orbit" of the planes convey a sense of desperation and a search for survival amidst the chaos.

The poem concludes with a powerful image of communication and loss: "Here below / They beg, order, are not heard; and hear the darker / Voice rising: Can't you hear me? Over. Over - / All the air quivers, and the east sky glows." The pleas and commands from the ground go unanswered, highlighting the isolation and helplessness of those in the air. The "darker voice" and the repeated "Over. Over -" suggest the finality of the situation, as the air quivers with the tension and the east sky glows with an ominous light, possibly signaling dawn or the aftermath of destruction.

In "A Front," Randall Jarrell masterfully captures the harrowing experience of bomber crews during wartime, using rich imagery and sound to convey the danger, isolation, and futility faced by those involved. The poem's vivid descriptions and emotional depth offer a poignant reflection on the human cost of war and the relentless struggle for survival amidst chaos.

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