W.B. Yeats | Poems |

 Thinking Activity : W.B. Yeats's Poems 

Hello. 

This blog is part of Thinking activity task of W.B.Yeats poems from Twenteith Centurry literature. In this blog two poems will analyse. First we shall take look at " On Being Asked for a War Poem"

 On Being Asked for a War Poem : 

I think it better that in times like these

A poet's mouth be silent, for in truth

We have no gift to set a statesman right;

He has had enough of meddling who can please

A young girl in the indolence of her youth,

Or an old man upon a winter’s night.

  Poem Analysis : 

Face value of poem is Poet doesn't want to speak anything. This poem is a bit different from others in a collection about war. Instead of talking about war, it says that poets shouldn't write about politics. The poet suggests that their job is to make their friends happy rather than getting involved in the world's problems.

For deeper understanding of this poem two poems will be helpful.  ‘Easter 1916’, ‘An Irish Airman foresees his death’ suggests his unhappiness towards the war. Ireland was a colony of the British, Irish soldiers had to fight a war not of their patriotic duty but by force of Britisher. We can interpret that it might also be the reason why poet is not interested in wars, Irish people were fighting in war but they had no profit, they were bounded by Britishers.

In this poem there is Refusal as assent. The line "A poet's mouth be silent" is having air of irony or Lakshna means trying to say exact opposite. In this line, Yeats engages in a contemporary debate, expressing a straightforward opinion on the silence of a poet's mouth during troubled times, such as war. The use of enjambment mirrors everyday speech. Additionally, the phrase "a poet’s mouth" being silent employs the literary technique of metonymy. 

As A.C.Ward talks about  Dictatorial intellectualism, emotionally unsuseptable youth easily manipulated by Statemen. Moreover, due to that they attacked writers or individuals who talked against them, it resulted in Dictatorial intellectualism. Writers started eascping (Escapism)  and write work which is more complex in nature or remaining silent. For example, James Joyce in Ulessys and T.S. Eliot in The Waste Land used Complex language and narrative techniques. Similarly here Yeats tried to be silent because youngster and older(Whatsapp Uncle-Aunty) easily choose Right over Truth. 

A statesman is a political leader. Here, it is asserted that poets have no “gift”, or ability, to tell statesman how they should make decisions. He can be poet or politician. The term "meddling" in the poem conveys a negative view towards those who write politically active poems. However, when applied to the lives of old men and young girls, it takes on a playful tone. The poet quickly shifts from politics to an intimate scene, emphasizing beauty, youth, and innocence. The phrase "an old man on a winter’s night" suggests that the poet's influence extends to everyday life, indicating poetry's role in appealing to beauty, wisdom, youth, and age. Yeats might argue that poetry's concerns surpass mere political issues.

Longinus in his work Sublime talked about text's power of transform reders, similarly this poem is transform reders to the contemporary time though it is written in 1915. It's relevence is still here, while media is corrupted and any statement against authority turned into blasphamy or anti-nationality poet wants to be silent.

 

In prosodic reading of the poem has six lines with ABC rhyme scheme.  Aditionally, Henry James and Edith Warton suggested Yeats to write the poem . Yeats compose a political poem about World War I Yeats changed the poem's title from "To a friend who has asked me to sign his manifesto to the neutral nations"  and then "A Reason for Keeping Silent"

For detailed analysis of the poem >>> On Being Asked for a War Poem - W B Yeats

 The Second Coming : 

The Second Coming poem is written in the 1919 aftermath of world war 1 and the beginning of Irish War of Independence. This Information easily helps us to read the Poem as a war poem. But if we read the history of 1918-19 we find that it was also a period of Flu pandemic. This creates a confusion whether Yeats wrote this Apocalyptic poem in reference to war or flu, as the poem does not suggest any specific reference in it. We shall be looking at poem with three different percpective, riligious, political and pendemic view. 

"Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world," 

The phrase "the falcon cannot hear the falconer" is from W.B. Yeats's poem "The Second Coming." In this context, it suggests a sense of chaos, disorder, and a breakdown in communication or control. The falcon represents a force or entity that is no longer obedient or responsive to its master (the falconer). This line is often interpreted as a metaphor for the disintegration of societal order or the loss of control in the broader world. The inability of the falcon to hear its falconer signifies a disconnect and a descent into anarchy or turmoil.

With pandemic viewpoint, Elizabeth Outka in her text ‘Viral Modernism: The Influenza Pandemic and Interwar Literature’ (2019) explains a bit about the authors who addressed pandemic in their work. Reading Yeats’ biography we do find that his wife, Georgie Hyde- Lees was pregnant and was caught by Influenza. In that period the highest ratio of death was among the pregnant ladies, around 70% pregnant ladies were dying because of influenza. Yeats wrote this poem when his wife was recovering. Looking at this biographical element we can interpret this poem to be a pandemic poem, it is definitely a war poem but we also find Influenza effect recorded in this poem.

The lines reflect a dire period where authority loses control, much like the chaos during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation parallels the influenza pandemic, where a lack of solutions led to everything "falling apart." The phrase "Centre cannot hold" signifies a loss of control over the unfolding events.

"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; "

At first, looking through the backdrop of war, due to World War I, numerous people died, and many of them were innocent. Moreover, people from countries like Ireland and India fought for Britain. However, war itself is often murderous. Most of the time, the figures who are the main reasons for the war are sitting in a room, and a significant number of soldiers die due to the monomania of power.

 Looking through pendemic lens ,the phrase "blood-dimmed tide" strongly suggests influenza, where bleeding from nose, ears, and mouth was common. "Ceremony of innocence" implies the deaths of innocents, akin to the widespread fatalities during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The poem addresses the pandemic indirectly, with the primary focus on war in the apocalyptic context, as seen in "The Second Coming."

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity."

In "The Second Coming," Yeats observes a stark contrast in society. The best lack determination and conviction, suggesting passivity. Meanwhile, the worst are characterized by intense and potentially destructive passion. This reflects Yeats's concerns about the moral and political upheaval of his time. The lines capture a sense of foreboding, reflecting the poet's unease with the direction of the world, especially in the aftermath of World War I. 

Comparing it to the present scenario raises concerns about the songs people are singing. Like the Gujarati idiom, "Adhuro Ghado Chalkay Ghano," those lacking the ability to think often showcase intense passion in doing wrong things. Nevertheless, those who are aware of the situation lose faith in everything. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the hope of 'Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam' was lost, and everywhere, there are only songs about My Country.

"Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi"

The Second Coming, the event most Christians believe will happen when Christ returns. There's clear wordplay of the Latin "Spiritus Sanctus" (Holy Spirit) with "Spiritus Mundi", also the Latin "Salvator Mundi" (Savior of the World, usually refers to Jesus Christ, also a famous Da Vinci painting). 

The Salvator Mundi painting depicts a frontal portrait view of Jesus Christ, depicting the top half of his torso, shoulders, and head. The background is dark in color and appears to be black. He is looking directly at us, the viewers, with a gentle yet penetrating gaze. His right hand (our left) is raised to just above chest height with his index finger and middle fingers both raised in a gesture of blessing.

In His left hand (our right), there is a large orb, which is held level with His chest. Christ is wearing a blue robe lined with golden zig-zagged and interweaved patterned trims; His robe appears to be from the Renaissance clothing fashion. His hair is a dark brown color and falls just below his shoulders in detailed curls.

(du Plessis)

In Christian iconography, the image of Jesus Christ with a raised right hand and left hand holding an orb is a common depiction. It relates to what is known as “Christian iconography” and the title also provides us with more information because the words Salvator Mundi are Latin meaning “Savior of the World”.

It's also interesting how Yeats writes the word "revelation", when the book of capital-R revelation describes similar beasts made up of different animals/men, as do other prophecies in the Bible.

For detail reading of painting visit this : “Salvator Mundi” by Leonardo da Vinci – A Jesus Painting Analysis

"Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know

These lines are from W.B. Yeats's poem "The Second Coming." In this excerpt, Yeats describes a vision or revelation that troubles the speaker's sight. The imagery depicts a creature with a lion's body and a human head, its gaze being blank and pitiless like the sun. This creature is moving slowly in the desert sands, surrounded by shadows of indignant desert birds.

The vision in these lines hints at impending doom and disorder. The creature, with its mix of animal and human elements, creates an eerie and surreal atmosphere. Its emotionless and pitiless gaze suggests a lack of empathy or mercy, intensifying the overall ominous tone of the poem.

While looking as pendemic poem POV, this beast is more like virus here it is visible however, virus is not. So many paintings were made upon the  Corona virus similarly this beast will creat diorder and chaos.

That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,"

In these lines from "The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats, he suggests that the world has been dormant for a long time, like a "stony sleep" lasting for twenty centuries. This period of inactivity is disturbed by the emergence of a new force, symbolized by a "rocking cradle." The cradle represents a new ideology or power that is causing disturbance and upheaval. The term "nightmare" implies that this emerging force is unsettling and distressing. Yeats uses these vivid images to convey a sense of significant change and chaos in the world. The lines capture the poet's perception of a world undergoing a profound transformation, with the emergence of a force that disrupts the long period of relative quietude.

"And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

Bethlehem is  the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The "rough beast" slouching towards Bethlehem is commonly seen as a metaphor for a destructive force or ideology emerging, symbolizing chaos and upheaval. In these lines, Yeats conveys his unease about the turbulent times and the potential rise of destructive forces that could reshape the world negatively and unsettlingly.

So this is  my reading of  poem. I hope you get some new things. 

Thank You.

Images :  8

Video :  1

Words :  2069

References : 

du Plessis, Alicia. “"Salvator Mundi" by Leonardo da Vinci - A Jesus Painting Analysis.” Art in Context, 3 August 2022, https://artincontext.org/salvator-mundi-by-leonardo-da-vinci/. Accessed 26 January 2024.

Yeats, WB, and Dilip Barad. “WBYeats Poems.” Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 20 May 2021, https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2021/05/whauden-poems.html. Accessed 26 January 2024.

WAR POETRY | FIRST WORLD WAR

 War Poetry- Thinking Activity 

Hello

This blog is part of Thinking activity task of War Poetry.  

Compare any two poems concerning the subject, style of writing, and patriotism.

The Soldier - RUPERT BROOKE

"The Soldier" is a poem by Rupert Brooke written during the first year of the First World War (1914). It is a deeply patriotic and idealistic poem that expresses a soldier's love for his homeland—in this case England, which is portrayed as a kind of nurturing paradise. Indeed, such is the soldier's bond with England that he feels his country to be both the origin of his existence and the place to which his consciousness will return when he dies. The poem was a hit with the public at the time, capturing the early enthusiasm for the war (before the grim realities of longterm conflict made themselves known). Nowadays, the poem is seen as somewhat naïve, offering little of the actual experience of war. That said, it undoubtedly captures and distills a particular type of patriotism.

Dulce et Decorum Est - Wilfred Owen

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

 

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—

Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

 

In all my dreams before my helpless sight,

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

 

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

"Dulce et Decorum Est" is a poem by the English poet Wilfred Owen. Like most of Owen's work, it was written between August 1917 and September 1918, while he was fighting in World War 1. Owen is known for his wrenching descriptions of suffering in war. In "Dulce et Decorum Est," he illustrates the brutal everyday struggle of a company of soldiers, focuses on the story of one soldier's agonizing death, and discusses the trauma that this event left behind. He uses a quotation from the Roman poet Horace to highlight the difference between the glorious image of war (spread by those not actually fighting in it) and war's horrifying reality.

 

Now let's compare "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke and "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen in terms of subject, style of writing, and patriotism:

Subject :

The Soldier poem idealizes war, portraying a soldier's death in a foreign land as a noble sacrifice for England. It emphasizes the lasting legacy of the soldier in a place that becomes a permanent part of England. Whereas, Dulce et Decorum Est presents a stark and brutal portrayal of the harsh realities of war, particularly the horrors experienced by soldiers in the trenches. It challenges the notion that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country, exposing the traumatic and dehumanizing aspects of warfare.

Style of Writing :

• Brooke's style is traditional and reflects the romantic poetry of the early 20th century. The language is lyrical, and the tone is idealistic. The poem is written in a sonnet form, utilizing a more classical structure. On the other hand, Owen's style is modern and reflects the disillusionment and bitterness of the war poets. The language is vivid, and the tone is harsh and realistic. The poem is written in free verse, allowing for a more direct and raw expression of the horrors of war.

Patriotism :

1. • The poem expresses a strong sense of patriotism and idealism. It suggests that dying for one's country is an honorable and noble act, contributing to the glorification of war and sacrifice. While, Owen's poem challenges the conventional notions of patriotism. It rejects the idea that war is glorious and patriotic, exposing the grim and dehumanizing nature of conflict. The poem is anti-war in its message and questions the sincerity of those who promote the romanticized view of war.
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 Do you find any such regional poem/movies/web series/songs that can be compared to any one of the poems Also, give a proper explanation of the similarity.

Teri Mitti Me Mil Java Song  : 

तलवारों पे सर वार दिये

अंगारों में जिस्म जलाया है

तब जा के कहीं हमने सर पे

ये केसरी रंग सजाया है

ऐ मेरी ज़मीं, अफ़सोस नही जो तेरे लिये १०० दर्द सहे

महफ़ूज़ रहे तेरी आन सदा, चाहे जान मेरी ये रहे ना रहे

ऐ मेरी ज़मीं, महबूब मेरी

मेरी नस-नस में तेरा इश्क़ बहे

"फीका ना पड़े कभी रंग तेरा, " जिस्मों से निकल के खून कहे

तेरी मिट्टी में मिल जावां

गुल बनके मैं खिल जावां

इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू

तेरी नदियों में बह ਜਾਵਾਂ

तेरे खेतों में लहरावां

इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू

सरसों से भरे खलिहान मेरे

जहाँ झूम के भांगड़ा पा ना सका

आबाद रहे वो गाँव मेरा

जहाँ लौट के वापस जा ना सका

ओ वतना वे, मेरे वतना वे

तेरा-मेरा प्यार निराला था

कुरबान हुआ तेरी अस्मत पे

मैं कितना नसीबों वाला था

तेरी मिट्टी में मिल  जावां

गुल बनके मैं खिल  जावां

इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू

तेरी नदियों में बह  जावां

तेरे खेतों में लहरावां

इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू

केसरी

The Hindi song "Kesari" expresses deep emotions about sacrifice and love for the homeland. It vividly describes shedding blood on swords and burning bodies in embers, symbolizing profound devotion. The poet yearns to adorn the saffron color on the head as a mark of sacrifice. There's a lament for the pain endured for the land and a desire to become one with the soil.

The verses celebrate a unique and profound love for the homeland, wishing for eternal safety and a constant connection to the sacred soil. The poet passionately expresses a desire to flow in rivers and sway in the fields of the beloved homeland. This poem echoes a strong and emotional sense of patriotism.

In contrast, "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke takes a more traditional and romanticized view of war. It envisions a soldier's death in a foreign land as a noble sacrifice for England. The focus is on the enduring legacy of the soldier, contributing to the glorification of war and sacrifice in a structured sonnet form.

While both works share themes of sacrifice and love for the homeland, the Hindi poem emphasizes personal and emotional connections to the land. In contrast, "The Soldier" presents a more idealized portrayal of war, contrasting the two perspectives on patriotism and sacrifice.

Mere Dushman Mere Bhai

  :  

जंग जो चंद रोज़ होती है ज़िंदगी बरसों तलक रोती है
सन्नाटे की गहरी छांव खामोशी से जलते पांव
ये नदियों पर टूटे हुए पुल धरती घायल है व्याकुल
ये खेत बमों से झूलते हुए ये खाली रस्ते सहमें हुए
ये मातम करता सारा समां ये जलते घर ये काला धुआं
हो हो हो

मेरे दुश्मन मेरे भाई मेरे हमसाए
मुझसे तुझसे हम दोनों से ये जलते घर कुछ कहते हैं
बरबादी के सारे मंज़र कुछ कहते हैं हाय
मेरे दुश्मन मेरे भाई ...बारूद से बोझल सारी फ़िज़ां है मौत की बू फैलती हवा

ज़ख्मों पे है छाई लाचारी गलियों में है फिरती बीमारी
ये मरते बच्चे हाथों में ये माँओं का रोना रातों में
मुरदा बस्ती मुरदा है नगर चेहरे पत्थर हैं दिल पत्थर
मेरे दुश्मन मेरे भाई ...जलते घर बरबादी के सारे मंज़र सब मेरे नगर सब तेरे नगर

ये कहते हैं
इस सरहद पर फुंफकारेगा कब तक नफ़रत का ये अजगर
हम अपने अपने खेतों में
गेनूं की जगह चावल की जगह बंदूकें क्यों बोते हैं
जब दोनों ही की गलियों में कुछ भूखे बच्चे रोते है 

The Hindi song Mere Dushman Mere Bhai vividly portrays the hardships and devastation caused by war, describing the sorrowful scenes of destroyed homes, broken bridges over rivers, and empty roads trembling in fear. It conveys the impact of conflict on the land, the people, and the poignant cries of children and mothers. The verses carry a message of shared pain between enemies and brothers, as the poet questions the senselessness of war and the ruins it leaves behind. The imagery includes the stench of death, wounded children, and the haunting cries echoing in the silence of war-torn streets.

In contrast, Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est" starkly depicts the harsh realities of war with direct and simple sentences. Owen's poem describes soldiers in the trenches, gas attacks, and the gruesome aftermath of a gas attack. It challenges the notion that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country, exposing the traumatic and dehumanizing aspects of warfare. The language is raw, presenting the brutality of war in a straightforward manner. The poem rejects the glorification of war, emphasizing the bitter and painful experiences faced by soldiers.

Both poems share a theme of the devastating impact of war, but the Hindi poem uses vivid imagery and a questioning tone, while Owen's poem employs direct and raw language to convey the brutality and disillusionment of war.

Thank You. 

References : 

Brooke, Rupert. “The Soldier by Rupert Brooke | Poetry Magazine.” Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/13076/the-soldier. Accessed 1 April 2024.

“Mere Dushman Mere Bhai.” YouTube: Home, 9 November 2017, https://youtu.be/Z8WsQl8kp2M?si=PXVTGmaLpreMiFqd. Accessed 1 April 2024.

“The Soldier by Rupert Brooke : First World War Poetry.” YouTube: Home, 9 November 2017, https://youtu.be/CZVFS-UuzCI?si=j8FQenfjJDVlS7Qa. Accessed 1 April 2024.

“Teri Mitti Me Mil Java.” YouTube: Home, 9 November 2017, https://youtu.be/we0Wk-Jd9Iw?si=pYjWtXfeX0si0TfO. Accessed 1 April 2024.