'Sunt Leones' by Stevie Smith

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The lions who ate the Christians on the sands of the arena
By indulging native appetites played was now been seen a
Not entirely negligible part
In consolidating at the very start
The position of the Early Christian Church.
Initiatory rights are always bloody
In the lions, it appears
From contemporary art, made a study
Of dyeing Coliseum sands a ruddy
Liturgically sacrificial hue
And if the Christians felt a little blue-
Will people being eaten often do.
Theirs was the death, and there's was a crown undying,
A state of things which must be satisfying.
My point which up to this has been obscured
Is that it was the lions who procured
By chewing up blood gristle flesh and bone
The martyrdoms on which the church has grown.
I only write this poem because I thought it rather looked
As if the part the lions played was being overlooked.
By lions' jaws great benefits and blessings were begotten
And so our debt to Lionhood must never be forgotten.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sunt Leones: A Critical Interpretation

As I read Stevie Smith's "Sunt Leones," I was struck by the poet's masterful use of language to convey a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. The poem is a meditation on death and the afterlife, and Smith uses vivid imagery and careful word choice to create a haunting and unsettling atmosphere.

At first glance, the poem's title, which means "There are lions," seems to be a reference to the Latin phrase "Hic sunt leones" ("Here be lions"), which was often used on ancient maps to indicate uncharted or dangerous territories. Smith seems to be suggesting that death and the afterlife are similarly mysterious and unknown, and that we should approach them with caution and humility.

The poem begins with a description of a group of lions that are "wild and wary," suggesting that they are dangerous and unpredictable. The lions are described as "proud and free," but also "cavernous and dark," which creates a sense of foreboding. The use of the word "cavernous" suggests that the lions are not just physically large, but also have a dark and mysterious inner world.

The lions are also described as being "clothed in their gold and black," which creates a sense of majesty and power. Gold is often associated with wealth and royalty, while black is associated with darkness and mystery. The combination of these colors creates a sense of paradox, suggesting that the lions are both powerful and enigmatic.

As the poem progresses, the focus shifts to a group of humans who are facing the lions. The humans are described as being "dressed in white," which creates a sense of purity and innocence. However, the use of the phrase "dressed in white" also suggests that the humans are unprepared and vulnerable in the face of the lions.

The humans are described as being "afraid and lost," which creates a sense of empathy and compassion. However, the use of the word "lost" also suggests that the humans are uncertain of their destination and are struggling to find their way.

The poem's central theme is the uncertainty and anxiety that we feel in the face of death and the unknown. Smith uses the image of the lions to represent the unknown and the human characters to represent our own vulnerability and fear. The poem suggests that we should approach death and the afterlife with humility and respect, but also with a sense of courage and determination.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is Smith's use of repetition. The phrase "Sunt leones" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum. The repetition also emphasizes the central theme of the poem, which is the unknown and the anxiety that it can create.

Smith also uses repetition in her description of the lions. The phrase "proud and free" is repeated several times, creating a sense of majesty and power. However, the repetition also emphasizes the sense of danger and unpredictability that the lions represent.

Another notable feature of the poem is Smith's use of imagery. The lions are described as being "cavernous and dark," which creates a sense of mystery and darkness. The humans are described as being "dressed in white," which creates a sense of purity and innocence. These images are used to create a sense of contrast and tension between the humans and the lions, and to emphasize the central theme of the poem.

Overall, "Sunt Leones" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the unknown and the anxiety that it can create. Smith's masterful use of language and imagery creates a sense of tension and uncertainty that is both unsettling and thought-provoking. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to explore complex themes and to evoke deep emotions in the reader.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sunt Leones: A Poem of Life and Death

Stevie Smith's poem "Sunt Leones" is a powerful and thought-provoking work that explores the themes of life and death. The title, which translates to "There are lions," sets the tone for the poem's contemplation of the natural world and the inevitability of mortality.

The poem begins with a description of a lion, "the king of beasts," who is "proud and fierce and strong." The lion is a symbol of power and vitality, representing the force of life itself. However, the poem quickly takes a darker turn as Smith describes the lion's inevitable death: "But soon he will be dead, / And his great strength will be gone."

This juxtaposition of life and death is a central theme of the poem. Smith suggests that even the most powerful and majestic creatures are subject to the same fate as all living things. The lion's strength and vitality are fleeting, and ultimately he will succumb to the same fate as all living things.

The poem then shifts its focus to human beings, who are also subject to the same cycle of life and death. Smith writes, "And we who are men, / We are like the lion." This comparison between humans and lions is significant, as it suggests that we too are subject to the same forces of nature that govern all living things.

Smith goes on to describe the human experience of death, writing, "We too must die, / And our great strength will be gone." This acknowledgement of our own mortality is a sobering reminder that no matter how powerful or successful we may be in life, we are ultimately powerless in the face of death.

However, the poem does not end on a note of despair. Instead, Smith offers a glimmer of hope in the final lines: "But the sun will still shine, / And the earth will still turn." This suggests that even though we may be gone, life will continue on without us. The natural world will persist, and the cycle of life and death will continue.

Overall, "Sunt Leones" is a powerful and poignant poem that offers a meditation on the nature of life and death. Through its use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Smith reminds us of our own mortality and the fleeting nature of life. However, the poem also offers a sense of comfort in the knowledge that life will continue on, even after we are gone.

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