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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"My Name" by Daniel Berrigan is a deeply introspective and poignant poem that explores themes of identity, responsibility, and the human capacity for violence and compassion. Through a reflective examination of his own name and its significance within the context of global suffering and injustice, Berrigan grapples with the limitations and responsibilities of the individual in confronting the atrocities of the world. The poem opens with a comparison to Pablo Neruda and William Blake, poets whose names carry a certain weight and eloquence, suggesting a legacy of artistic and moral authority that transcends national boundaries. Berrigan implies that with such a name, one might be better equipped to address and withstand the horrors of the world where "men perish / in our two murderous hands." This introduction sets the stage for a meditation on the power and limitations of one's identity and voice in the face of systemic violence and oppression. The name "Berrigan" then becomes a focal point for self-reflection. The poet recognizes the need to confront the reality of his own complicity and the collective guilt of humanity, symbolized by the stigmatized palms that bear "the broken faces / you yearn toward." This imagery evokes the Christian symbolism of stigmata, suggesting a profound moral and spiritual suffering for the pain inflicted upon others. Berrigan acknowledges the burden of this awareness and the imperative to bear witness to the victims of violence. The poem further explores the theme of powerlessness, comparing the speaker's inability to protect or offer refuge ("being powerless as a woman / under the rain of fire") to the vulnerability of those caught in the crossfire of conflict. The reference to "life, the cover of your body" underscores the fragility of human existence and the preciousness of each life threatened by war and violence. Berrigan's assertion that "Only the innocent die" serves as a lament for the unjust loss of life and an indictment of the moral failures that lead to such tragedies. The call to "Take up, take up / the bloody map of the century" is a charge to acknowledge and confront the widespread suffering and injustice that have characterized the modern era. The "long trek homeward" into "the land of unknowing" suggests a journey toward humility, recognition of human fallibility, and a search for redemption and understanding in a world marred by violence. "My Name" is a powerful reflection on the role of the individual—particularly one with a public platform—in addressing the collective sins of humanity. Through his contemplation of his own name and its implications, Daniel Berrigan invites readers to consider their own positions and responsibilities within the broader context of human history and its atrocities. The poem is a call to awareness, compassion, and action, urging us to bear witness to suffering and to strive for a more just and peaceful world. POEM TEXT: https://danielberrigan.org/poems/
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWO SONNETS, IN 1972: 2. MAY by DAVID LEHMAN A SONG FOR MANY MOVEMENTS by AUDRE LORDE NAT BACON'S BONES by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH ALL LIFE IN A LIFE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS VICARIOUS ATONEMENT by RICHARD ALDINGTON TOWARD THE JURASSIC AGE by CLARIBEL ALEGRIA IN GEORGETOWN; HOLIDAY INN, WASHINGTON, D.C. by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE AFTERLIFE: LETTER TO STEPHEN DOBYNS: 1 by HAYDEN CARRUTH |
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