Long have I written poetry and even longer read it. Recently I’m not at my peak for either activity, but last night while trying to fall asleep I was flipping through a poetry anthology I have and came upon this poem entitled September 1, 1939 by W.H. Auden.
As I said, I’m not much in the mindframe at the moment for thinking about and analyzing poetry–truth be told I am greatly lacking in any concentration whatsoever. I throw this to the writers, readers, literary times and brains of the SD. Thoughts? Analysis? Insight?
Does this strike an eerie chord with anyone else given the recent tragic turn of events?
I have nothing to say about the OP, but I have this sig that I rarely use. In fact I think I’ve only used it twice. So I’m seizing the chance to use it again.
Oh all right, I’ll say something about the poem. I think (and I’m sure someone will come along and tell me I’m wrong) that Mr. Auden was speaking of the general desperation just underneath the glitter of the city. So when he speaks of a “psycopathic god” and “skyscrapers use Their full height to proclaim The strength of Collective Man” he is poking at the hubris that covers this desperation.
Remember what was happening in Europe at that moment. Germany had invaded Poland and all of Europe stood on the edge of the abyss. In New York Americans also stood there but were able to deny it for a couple years longer. Auden had recently moved to the US but, having served in the Spanish Civil War (back before “don’t ask, don’t tell” ), had seen the first intimations of Total War and knew better than many what was to come.
Congrats, you just plowed through my favorite poem ever. I first read it five or so years ago and nearly every time I read it I get something new out of it.
My own interpretation:
Stanza:
Germany’s just invaded Poland, and ol’ W. H. is nervous. He feels that one nasty era has just passed and another will soon begin, and this one will be even worse than the last (it’s got an odor of DEATH…)
2.:
Clearly refers to Hitler and the German people. References to Linz, where Hitler grew up, and the anti-Semitic tradition of Germans (the whole offense/ From Luther until now/ That has driven a culture mad) confirm this. Luther was well-known for his virulently anti-Semitic writings.
3.:
Can’t say much about this one - I’ve never read Thucydides, so that reference is lost on me. I think he is referrring to the horrors of war: remember Th. wrote about the Peloponesian wars, and the last few lines (The habit-forming pain/ Mismanagement and grief/ We must suffer them all again) seem to imply another devastating war will soon be sweeping its way across Europe and the world. He thinks: didn’t we learn our lesson in 1918?
More later. Must get back to work.
), had seen the first intimations of Total War and knew better than many what was to come.