|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Bring It Up From The Dark" by Robert Duncan is a poignant and unsettling meditation on the human capacity for violence and indifference, set against the backdrop of conflict and displacement. The poem wrestles with themes of responsibility, complicity, and the haunting persistence of collective trauma. The poem begins with an invocation to "Bring up from the dark water," suggesting an emergence or revelation of something hidden—information or insights from "behind the horizon." This sets a tone of unveiling or discovery, hinting at truths that are submerged, obscured by distance or unawareness. The reference to "dark water" carries connotations of depth and obscurity, reinforcing the idea that these revelations are not easily accessed or comfortably acknowledged. Duncan describes "Refugees, nameless people" as emerging from this darkness, immediately establishing them as victims of unseen, distant events. By questioning their identity ("Who are they?"), he emphasizes their anonymity and, consequently, their vulnerability and marginalization. This lack of identity also implicates the reader and broader society, suggesting a collective failure to recognize or acknowledge the humanity of those suffering. The phrase "What is happening? I do not know" captures a sense of helplessness and ignorance, which is a central theme of the poem. This admission of ignorance contrasts sharply with the later assertion that "Men of our own country send deadly messengers we would not send." Here, Duncan addresses the uncomfortable truth that violence and atrocities are often committed in the name of or by one's own nation, implicating the speaker (and by extension, the reader) in these actions, despite personal disavowal of such methods. The imagery of a cold, desolate wind chilling "the first hint of morning" symbolizes the pervasive and creeping influence of violence, which taints even the promise of a new day. The "rumors of burnd houses, smoking fields" depict the devastation left in the wake of conflict, while the "wraiths of the dead men daily they kill" suggest that the consequences of violence are not only physical but also spiritual and psychological, haunting the living. Duncan’s reference to the destruction of "the great house of our humanity" serves as a powerful metaphor for the loss of universal values and common decency in the face of such brutality. The poem portrays aggressors as stripping away the very essence of what it means to be human, reducing individuals to "whatever human or animal remains living there." The closing lines of the poem bring a personal dimension to the broader narrative of conflict and suffering. The speaker identifies with Ishmael, the outcast figure from the Bible and symbol of exile and despair. This identification suggests a deep sense of isolation and sorrow, acknowledging a personal and collective burden of guilt and impotence in the face of overwhelming cruelty and injustice. Overall, "Bring It Up From The Dark" challenges readers to confront the darker aspects of human nature and societal actions. It is a call to awareness and empathy, urging us to recognize our part in the global narrative of conflict and our responsibility to the "nameless" victims of such conflicts. Through its haunting imagery and introspective questioning, the poem navigates the complex terrain of moral accountability and the search for redemption in a world marred by violence.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BALLAD OF WHITECHAPEL by ISAAC ROSENBERG SOULS LAKE by ROBERT STUART FITZGERALD THE WAVES OF BREFFNY by EVA GORE-BOOTH ON A MOURNER by ALFRED TENNYSON |
| |