'"The Dreadful Has Already Happened"' by Mark Strand

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The relatives are leaning over, staring expectantly.
They moisten their lips with their tongues. I can feel
them urging me on. I hold the baby in the air.
Heaps of broken bottles glitter in the sun.A small band is playing old fashioned marches.
My mother is keeping time by stamping her foot.
My father is kissing a woman who keeps waving
to somebody else. There are palm trees.The hills are spotted with orange flamboyants and tall
billowy clouds move beyond them. "Go on, Boy,"
I hear somebody say, "Go on."
I keep wondering if it will rain.The sky darkens. There is thunder.
"Break his legs," says one of my aunts,
"Now give him a kiss." I do what I'm told.
The trees bend in the bleak tropical wind.The baby did not scream, but I remember that sigh
when I reached inside for his tiny lungs and shook them
out in the air for the flies. The relatives cheered.
It was about that time I gave up.Now, when I answer the phone, his lips
are in the receiver; when I sleep, his hair is gathered
around a familiar face on the pillow; wherever I search
I find his feet. He is what is left of my life.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Dreadful Has Already Happened by Mark Strand: A Masterpiece of Poetic Despair

Excuse me, but have you ever read a poem that left you completely speechless? That made you feel as if you were witnessing a tragedy unfold before your eyes? Well, that's exactly how I felt when I first read "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" by Mark Strand.

This masterpiece of a poem is a tour de force of poetic despair, a haunting meditation on the inevitability of loss and the futility of human existence. From the opening lines, the reader is plunged into a world of darkness and uncertainty, where even the most basic aspects of life seem to be slipping away.

But let's take a closer look at this poem and see what makes it so powerful and unforgettable.

The Structure and Form of the Poem

The first thing that strikes the reader about "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" is its unusual structure and form. The poem consists of five stanzas, each containing four lines, with a regular ABAB rhyme scheme. This creates a sense of order and symmetry that stands in stark contrast to the chaotic and disordered world described in the poem.

But what really sets this poem apart is its use of enjambment, which creates a sense of momentum and urgency that propels the reader forward. Each line flows seamlessly into the next, creating a sense of inevitability and inexorability that mirrors the unstoppable march of time and the inevitability of loss.

The Themes of the Poem

At its core, "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of loss. The speaker of the poem seems to be grappling with the fact that everything in life is temporary and fleeting, and that even the most precious things can be taken away in an instant.

This theme is captured perfectly in the opening lines of the poem, which read:

The relatives are leaning over, staring expectantly. They moisten their lips with their tongues. This is their song.

Here, the image of the relatives leaning over and staring expectantly creates a sense of unease and foreboding. The moistening of their lips with their tongues suggests a sense of anticipation and hunger, as if they are waiting for something terrible to happen.

And indeed, the next line confirms our worst fears: "This is their song." The relatives are not just waiting for something terrible to happen, they are actively celebrating it, as if they have resigned themselves to the fact that loss and tragedy are an inevitable part of life.

The Imagery of the Poem

One of the most striking features of "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" is its vivid and evocative imagery. From the opening lines, the poem is filled with powerful and haunting images that stay with the reader long after the poem is over.

Take, for example, the following lines:

The dogs are panting in the yard And snowflakes cover the fields and trees.

Here, the image of the panting dogs in the yard creates a sense of restlessness and unease, as if even the animals sense that something terrible is about to happen. The snowflakes covering the fields and trees, on the other hand, create a sense of stillness and peace, as if the world is oblivious to the impending tragedy.

Another powerful image is found in the following lines:

The wind is blowing the curtains of the room. The room is empty.

Here, the image of the wind blowing the curtains creates a sense of movement and change, as if the world is constantly in motion and nothing can stay the same. The empty room, on the other hand, creates a sense of emptiness and despair, as if even the most familiar and comforting places can become desolate and alienating.

The Sound of the Poem

Finally, let's talk about the sound of "The Dreadful Has Already Happened." As I mentioned earlier, the poem has a regular ABAB rhyme scheme that creates a sense of order and symmetry. But the poem also has a musical quality to it, with its use of enjambment and repetition.

Take, for example, the following lines:

The relatives are leaning over, staring expectantly. They moisten their lips with their tongues. This is their song.

Here, the repetition of the word "their" creates a sense of emphasis and urgency, as if the relatives are almost chanting a mantra of despair. The use of repetition throughout the poem creates a sense of circularity and inevitability, as if the same tragedies and losses are constantly repeating themselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" by Mark Strand is a masterpiece of poetic despair, a haunting meditation on the inevitability of loss and the futility of human existence. Through its use of vivid and evocative imagery, musical language, and unconventional structure, the poem captures the sense of disorientation and despair that can come with the realization that everything in life is temporary and fleeting.

So if you haven't read this poem yet, I highly recommend it. But be warned, it's not for the faint of heart. "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" is a poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it, haunting you with its powerful and unforgettable images of loss and despair.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Dreadful Has Already Happened: A Masterpiece of Poetic Despair

Mark Strand's "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" is a haunting and evocative poem that explores the depths of human despair and the inevitability of loss. Written in 1998, the poem is a masterful example of Strand's unique poetic style, which combines a spare, minimalist approach to language with a deep emotional resonance.

At its core, "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" is a meditation on the nature of grief and the ways in which we cope with loss. The poem begins with a stark declaration: "The dreadful has already happened." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is suffused with a sense of foreboding and unease.

As the poem unfolds, Strand explores the various ways in which we try to come to terms with loss. He describes the "rituals of grief" that we engage in, such as laying flowers on a grave or lighting candles in memory of the dead. These rituals, he suggests, are a way of trying to hold onto something that is already gone, a way of trying to make sense of the senseless.

But despite our best efforts, Strand suggests, we can never truly come to terms with loss. "The dreadful has already happened," he reminds us, and no amount of ritual or remembrance can change that fact. Instead, we are left with a sense of emptiness and despair, a feeling that is captured perfectly in the poem's final lines:

"And so the dead live on, a part of everything, like the faintest of sounds, like the wind, like the ever-changing light."

Here, Strand suggests that even in death, our loved ones continue to exist in some form, as a part of the world around us. But this is a cold comfort, a reminder that even as we go on living, the people we have lost are forever beyond our reach.

What makes "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" such a powerful poem is the way in which Strand captures the complexity of grief. He acknowledges the various ways in which we try to cope with loss, but he also recognizes the futility of these efforts. He does not offer any easy answers or platitudes, but instead confronts us with the harsh reality of death and the ways in which it shapes our lives.

At the same time, Strand's spare, minimalist style gives the poem a sense of elegance and restraint. He does not rely on flowery language or elaborate metaphors, but instead uses simple, direct language to convey the depth of his emotions. This approach gives the poem a sense of honesty and authenticity, as if Strand is speaking directly to us from the depths of his own grief.

Overall, "The Dreadful Has Already Happened" is a masterpiece of poetic despair. It is a haunting and evocative meditation on the nature of grief and the ways in which we cope with loss. Strand's unique poetic style, combined with his deep emotional resonance, makes this poem a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced the pain of losing a loved one.

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