Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Cities & Empires" by Dick Allen delves into the themes of war, loss, and the coping mechanisms individuals employ to navigate the complexities and tragedies of life. The poem opens with advice from a woman who speaks of a method to endure pain and loss: by momentarily diverting one's gaze, as if to watch a sunset, allowing darkness to settle over the eyes as a form of relief or escape from the harsh reality. This metaphor suggests a deliberate, albeit temporary, withdrawal from the immediate horrors of the world—a way to find solace in the midst of despair.

The imagery of soldiers passing by, described as "straight lines of them, like holes in a cribbage board," evokes a sense of detachment and dehumanization, as if the soldiers and the destruction they bring are part of a game or a predetermined pattern that cannot be altered. The mention of "Men no older than my boy they caused to vanish" personalizes the tragedy, hinting at a loss so profound that the speaker must look away to bear it.

The scene shifts to a post-march tranquility, disrupted only by the remnants of violence: "cars with blackened seats, / And a body or two." In this aftermath, the woman's thoughts turn to mundane acts of comfort, specifically the desire for coffee. This juxtaposition of the ordinary against the backdrop of violence underscores the human instinct to seek normalcy and warmth in the simplest of routines, as a means of asserting life and continuity amidst chaos.

The poem then explores the notion of the mind as a refuge, with "little rooms / It rents out to the body." This metaphor speaks to the compartmentalization of experience, where one can retreat internally to spaces untouched by the external world's brutality. In these mental rooms, one encounters a solitude so profound that "no one follows you, the shades are drawn." The imagery of dust falling from touched objects in these rooms suggests both the passage of time and the presence of those lost, hinting at the ways memory and grief inhabit our quietest moments.

"Cities & Empires" captures the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming sorrow. Through its vivid imagery and poignant metaphors, the poem reflects on the personal strategies of survival and the small acts of defiance against the encroaching darkness of war and loss. Dick Allen's work invites readers to contemplate the inner landscapes we navigate as we endure the trials of the external world, reminding us of the strength found in vulnerability and the solace of the mundane in times of upheaval.

POEM TEXT:https://www.google.com/books/edition/Yellow_Shoe_Poets/2D6aqhb651oC?q=BACA+%22MEN+LATE+AT+NIGHT+COOK+COFFEE+IN+RUSTY+CANS%22&gbpv=1&bsq=CITIES%20%26#f=false

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