Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Suite for Augustus: D.C." by Rita Dove is a complex and evocative poem that examines the contradictions and historical layers of Washington, D.C., through a series of vividly depicted vignettes. The poem presents images that juxtapose the grandeur and the grotesque, the political and the personal, highlighting the city's unique status as both a symbol of national identity and a place marked by deep historical ironies and disparities.

The first section is a dense collage of items that could be found in a museum or a historical collection: "Roosters corn wooden dentures pins & thimbles embroidery hoops greenbacks & silver snuff & silver / brontosaurus bones couched on Smithsonian velvet." This listing evokes the eclectic and sometimes bizarre assortment of artifacts that represent America's varied history. The mention of "Smithsonian velvet" suggests these items are displayed with a certain reverence, typical of national museums in D.C., which seek to preserve and present the country's heritage. The juxtaposition of mundane objects with rare items like "brontosaurus bones" underscores the complexity and layered nature of American history.

The second section shifts to a more philosophical reflection on the nature of Washington, D.C., itself: "A bloodless finger pointing to heaven, you say, is surely no more impossible than this city." This metaphor might suggest the idealistic and moral aspirations symbolized by monuments such as the Washington Monument, contrasted against the city's reality as "A no man's land, a capital askew, a postcard framed by imported blossoms." Dove captures the inherent contradictions of a city built on ideals of democracy and freedom, yet marred by political strife and the realities of its constructed environment. The "outrageous cue stick lying, reflected, on a black table" could symbolize political maneuvering, the games of power and influence that define the city.

In the third section, Dove brings a more haunting and spectral scene: "Leaving his chair under the giant knee-cap, he prowls the edge of the prune-black water." This could refer to a statue or a monument, with the "giant knee-cap" evoking the massive scale of such memorials. The scene might be set near the Tidal Basin or along the Potomac River, places that have witnessed countless historical moments. The reference to a "ghost trio plays Dixie" introduces the specter of the Civil War and its lingering echoes in the capital. "His slaves have outlived him in this life, too," suggests the enduring legacy of figures such as Washington and Jefferson, whose ideals of liberty are forever shadowed by their personal histories as slave owners. The final lines, "Harmonicas breathe in, / the gray palms clap: 'De broomstick's jumped, the world's not wide,'" seem to evoke an African American spiritual or folk perspective, commenting perhaps on the irony of freedom within a still-constricted social order.

Overall, "Suite for Augustus: D.C." by Rita Dove is a poignant meditation on Washington, D.C., as a place of power and symbol, yet also a site of profound contradictions and historical complexities. The poem invites readers to reflect on the myriad ways in which American history is represented, celebrated, and contested within the nation's capital.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Collected_Poems_1974_2004/fRyZCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

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