Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Mosaic of the Nativity: Serbia, Winter, 1993" is a poem by Jane Kenyon, an American poet born in 1947 and who passed away in 1995. Kenyon is known for her insightful and contemplative poetry that often explores themes of nature, mortality, and everyday life.

Explanation:

"Mosaic of the Nativity: Serbia, Winter, 1993" is a poem that describes a scene of war-torn Serbia in the winter of 1993. The speaker describes the various elements of a mosaic of the Nativity scene that she sees in a church, including the baby Jesus, the Magi, and the Holy Family. The poem was composed in the early 1990s during the Bosnian War.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse
• Theme: Religion, war, and suffering
• Imagery: The mosaic of the Nativity scene, snow, the war-torn landscape
• Tone: Somber, reflective
• Sound: Repetition of phrases such as "war has done", alliteration ("silvery slivers"), and consonance ("a bright blade")
• Language: Simple and direct, with occasional use of elevated vocabulary
• Figurative language: Metaphor ("the snow / sparkling like crushed glass"), simile ("the Magi's gifts like broken promises"), and personification ("the weathercock creaks")
• Structure: The poem is composed of three stanzas, each with varying line lengths. It is written in free verse, which allows the speaker to move between different observations and emotions without being constrained by a strict form.
• Symbolism: The Nativity scene in the poem is a symbol of hope and redemption in the midst of suffering and violence. The brokenness of the Magi's gifts and the Holy Family's impoverished surroundings suggest the fragility of peace and stability in the face of war and destruction.
• Emotion: The poem evokes a sense of sadness and despair, as the speaker observes the devastating effects of war on a religious tradition that is meant to inspire hope and faith. However, there is also a sense of resilience and endurance in the image of the Nativity scene, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is still room for light and grace.

Conclusion:

"Mosaic of the Nativity: Serbia, Winter, 1993" is a haunting and poignant poem that bears witness to the devastating effects of war on a religious tradition. Through the use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, the poem speaks to the enduring power of faith and the human spirit in the face of suffering.

Poem Snippet:

"Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

snow on snow,

in the bleak mid-winter long ago.

It continues now, a silver filament”