Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

FIRST BOOK OF ODES: 20. VESTIGES - 1., by BASIL BUNTING Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"First Book of Odes: 20. Vestiges - 1." by Basil Bunting is a deeply evocative poem that delves into themes of historical memory, the impermanence of human achievements, and the cyclic nature of life and civilization. Through vivid imagery and references to historical figures and events, Bunting constructs a narrative that spans across cultures and epochs, reflecting on the remnants of past glories and the inevitable decline of empires.

The poem begins with a stark depiction of a landscape and a people who have fallen from their former greatness. The "salt grass silent of hooves" and the "lake stinks" evoke a sense of desolation and decay, a far cry from the prosperity that might have characterized this place in the past. The mention of "scabby" children and the inability to read the tombs of ancestors underscores the loss of knowledge and the disconnect from a once-proud heritage. This setting serves as a powerful metaphor for the ephemerality of human endeavors and the harsh realities of time's passage.

Bunting references historical figures and moments, such as Temuchin (better known as Genghis Khan), to illustrate the transient nature of power and influence. Temuchin's ghost crying under the north wind symbolizes the ultimate futility of ambition and conquest, with the once fearsome leader now reduced to a voiceless specter, his achievements and his horde "indistinguishable" in the vast expanse of history. The poet's mention of the "worn name weak in fool's jaws" further emphasizes how even the most formidable reputations can be diminished and misunderstood by subsequent generations.

The poem then shifts to explore the remnants of cultural achievements, with "no temples" built and the "woven hair" of cities now "mildewed and frayed." This imagery of decay extends to the records of Islam and Chin, with tales of battles and legendary figures like Jengiz (another name for Genghis Khan) fading into obscurity. Bunting captures the inevitable decline of civilizations, where even the most significant historical narratives and accomplishments become vestiges of a bygone era.

The reference to the "Baghdad banker" and the practices of taxation hints at the complexities of governance and economy that underpin societies. The observation that excessive taxation impoverishes the people reflects a timeless truth about the balance between state needs and the well-being of its citizens. This part of the poem serves as a critique of governance that prioritizes wealth accumulation over the health of society, a theme that resonates across ages.

"First Book of Odes: 20. Vestiges - 1." concludes with a reflection on the simplicity of laws in the past, juxtaposed against the intricate systems of control and administration that characterize more developed societies. This longing for a simpler time, free from litigation and complex laws, underscores a nostalgic yearning for a perceived purity and directness in human relations that is lost in the modern world.

Through "Vestiges - 1.," Basil Bunting offers a poignant meditation on the cycles of history, the transient nature of power, and the enduring struggle of humanity to find meaning amidst the ruins of the past. The poem serves as a reminder of our shared heritage and the impermanence of human achievements, inviting readers to reflect on the legacy of civilizations and the lessons that the vestiges of history can teach us.

POEM TEXT:

Salt grass silent of hooves, the lake stinks, we take a few small fish from the streams, our children are scabby, chivvied by flies, we cannot read the tombs in the eastern prairie, who slew the Franks, who swam the Yellow River.

The lice have left Temuchin's tent. His ghost cries under north wind, having spent strength in life: life lost, lacks means of death, voice-tost; the horde indistinguishable; worn name weak in fool's jaws.

We built no temples. Our cities' woven hair mildewed and frayed. Records of Islam and Chin, battles, swift riders, ambush,

tale of the slain, and the name Jengiz.

Wild geese of Yen, peacocks of the Windy Shore.

Tall Chutsai sat under the phoenix tree.

- That Baghdad banker contracts to double the revenue, him collecting.

Four times might be exacted, but such taxation impoverishes the people.

No litigation. The laws were simple.