Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser’s poem "The Book of the Dead: The Bill" is a powerful culmination of the themes and narratives woven throughout her "The Book of the Dead" sequence. This poem serves as a legislative and moral indictment of the companies and practices that led to the Hawk’s Nest Tunnel disaster, exposing the systemic negligence and disregard for human life in the pursuit of industrial progress.

The poem opens with a formal, almost bureaucratic tone, as a subcommittee submits its findings on the Hawk’s Nest Tunnel project. The detailed account begins with the construction of the tunnel by Dennis and Rinehart for the New Kanawha Power Company, a subsidiary of Union Carbide & Carbon Company. This setting immediately situates the reader within the complex web of corporate and governmental interests that frame the narrative.

The tunnel, drilled to divert water to a hydroelectric plant, contained rock that was 90 to 99 percent pure silica. The poem underscores that this fact was well known and that silica is dangerous to human lungs, leading to silicosis—a disease that is incurable and often fatal. The language here is stark and factual, emphasizing the well-documented nature of the hazard and the long-standing warnings from the Bureau of Mines. This scientific and medical context adds weight to the ethical and moral arguments that follow.

Rukeyser highlights the blatant disregard for worker safety, noting that prevention methods such as wet drilling, ventilation, and respirators were neglected. The poem vividly describes the working conditions in the tunnel: “It was quite cloudy in there. / When the drills were going, in all the smoke and dust, / it seemed like a gang of airplanes going through / that tunnel.” This imagery conveys the suffocating and dangerous environment in which the workers toiled, and the ineffectiveness of the minimal protective measures provided.

The poem’s narrative is punctuated by testimonies of negligence: respirators were not furnished, drills were run dry for speed, and gasoline locomotives caused monoxide poisoning. The sheer disregard for human life is starkly presented: "Many died. Many are not yet dead. / Of negligence. Wilful or inexcusable." This line serves as a powerful indictment of the corporate entities responsible for the tunnel project.

Further findings by the subcommittee reveal the prevalence of such hazards in other states and industries, marking it as a "greatest menace." The poem transitions into a broader critique of industrial practices and the systemic exploitation of workers. The call for investigation and accountability is clear, yet the poem also acknowledges the limitations of legal recourse: “I want to point out that under the statute $500 or / $1000, but no more, may be recovered.”

Rukeyser’s use of formal language and legislative structure contrasts with the visceral reality of the workers' suffering, highlighting the inadequacy of bureaucratic responses to profound human tragedies. The poem’s conclusion reflects on the moral implications of these findings. The suffering and death of the workers are framed as potentially redemptive if they lead to greater safety and respect for human life in industry: “If by their suffering and death they will have made a future life safer for / work beneath the earth, if they will have been able to establish a new / and greater regard for human life in industry, their suffering may not / have been in vain.”

The poem ends with a powerful metaphor: “Words on a monument. / Capitoline thunder. It cannot be enough. / The origin of storms is not in clouds, / our lightning strikes when the earth rises, / spillways free authentic power: / dead John Brown’s body walking from a tunnel / to break the armored and concluded mind.” This imagery connects the workers' struggle to broader themes of resistance and change, invoking the spirit of John Brown as a symbol of righteous rebellion against systemic injustice.

In conclusion, "The Book of the Dead: The Bill" is a poignant and incisive exploration of industrial exploitation and the quest for justice. Rukeyser’s integration of legislative language, personal testimony, and vivid imagery creates a multifaceted narrative that condemns corporate negligence and honors the suffering and resilience of the workers. The poem stands as both a historical document and a call to action, urging readers to confront the ethical dimensions of industrial progress and to strive for a more just and humane society.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...