Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Abt the Dead He Sd," Charles Olson grapples with the legacies of the past, focusing particularly on the impact of American figures who have “shaped the world…with a more than heavy hand.” The poem opens with a contemplation of writing an “obit” for these influential but controversial figures, examining how their actions linger, influencing the present and future. Olson’s tone is tinged with both critique and contemplation as he considers what these dead figures represent and what it means to confront their legacies.

Olson’s language is informal, almost conversational, as if he’s recording a spontaneous dialogue or memory. The fragmentary and overlapping perspectives—signaled by shifting pronouns like “he sd” and “she sd”—give the poem a layered feel, suggesting that each character, real or fictional, has their own complex relationship with history. The poem opens with “abt the dead he sd he was going to write an obit,” implying that there is a project to honor or perhaps to critique these “dead” American figures, who have shaped history with a “more than heavy hand.” The idea of “heavy hand” suggests both power and imposition, as if these historical figures exerted an influence that was, at times, oppressive or burdensome.

When “she sd, looking up at the bomb like it was a bird / got between her and the sun,” Olson introduces an image of looming violence and destruction, embodied in the bomb. This haunting moment hints at the devastating power wielded by these historical figures and how it impacts the people below. The bomb, blocking the sun, suggests that the legacy of war and violence casts a long shadow, eclipsing moments of clarity or peace. The imagery of the bomb as a “bird” also imbues it with a sense of inevitability or natural presence, as if violence is woven into the fabric of existence, obscuring life’s simpler or purer aspects.

The mention of General Ulysses S. Grant, a figure associated with both the preservation of the Union and the brutal tactics of war, provides a historical anchor to Olson’s exploration of American legacy. The speaker’s ambivalence about Grant is clear in the line, “I feel Grant / more days in more / of those fall-ins / where the glue, it feels, / of the creation is all / that holds anything / back?” Olson evokes a sensation of history as barely contained chaos, held together only by “the glue…of the creation.” This line reflects Olson’s awareness of history as something fragile and tenuous, bound together not by unity or mutual understanding, but by a kind of adhesive force that barely keeps it intact. The image of “fall-ins” recalls military formations, but it also suggests collapse or the eventual degradation of what holds a society together.

The line “The next turn of the wheel, / what do you think / about the next turn / of the wheel?” captures Olson’s concern with the cyclical nature of history and the uncertain future. The phrase “turn of the wheel” implies the inevitability of change and the return of similar challenges, conflicts, or themes. Olson is conscious that history is not static; it continues to evolve and transform with each “turn.” By asking, “what do you think / about the next turn,” Olson emphasizes the question of responsibility—how will the next generation confront the legacies of their predecessors? Will they repeat the same patterns, or will they chart a different course?

"Abt the Dead He Sd" reflects Olson’s skepticism and cautious hope for the future in light of America’s complicated past. Through fragmented voices and overlapping memories, Olson presents a collage-like view of history, suggesting that the past remains alive in the present, challenging us to reckon with it thoughtfully and critically. This poem becomes a meditation not only on the power of history but also on the responsibilities of the living to confront, understand, and potentially reshape it for the future.

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