'Our Bog Is Dood' by Stevie Smith
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Our Bog is dood, our Bog is dood,
They lisped in accents mild,
But when I asked them to explain
They grew a little wild.
How do you know your Bog is dood
My darling little child?
We know because we wish it so
That is enough, they cried,
And straight within each infant eye
Stood up the flame of pride,
And if you do not think it so
You shall be crucified.
Then tell me, darling little ones,
What's dood, suppose Bog is?
Just what we think, the answer came,
Just what we think it is.
They bowed their heads. Our Bog is ours
And we are wholly his.
But when they raised them up again
They had forgotten me
Each one upon each other glared
In pride and misery
For what was dood, and what their Bog
They never could agree.
Oh sweet it was to leave them then,
And sweeter not to see,
And sweetest of all to walk alone
Beside the encroaching sea,
The sea that soon should drown them all,
That never yet drowned me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Our Bog Is Dood: A Literary Criticism
Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like you were staring directly into the dark abyss of human existence? That's what "Our Bog Is Dood" by Stevie Smith does to me. It's a haunting, yet strangely comforting, exploration of the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life.
Background
Before we dive into the poem itself, let's talk a bit about the poet. Stevie Smith (1902-1971) was an English writer and poet whose work often dealt with themes of death, loneliness, and the human condition. She was also known for her unconventional style, which often included playful language and unexpected turns of phrase.
"Our Bog Is Dood" was first published in Smith's 1957 collection, "The Frog Prince and Other Poems." The poem explores the idea of death as a natural and inevitable part of life, and the narrator's acceptance of this fact.
The Poem
"Our Bog Is Dood" consists of six stanzas, each with four lines. Here is the full text of the poem:
Our Bog is dood, our Bog is dood,
They lisped in accents mild,
But when I asked them to explain
They grew a little wild.
How do you know your Bog is dood,
My darling little child?
We know it to our cost, my dear,
For yesterday they sold the drain.
An oak and an elm tree stand,
Sculptured in the sky,
A pond below, more still than glass,
Reflects the cows that lie in grass.
And there goes the train,
A line of distance blurred,
Going where? - To the world perhaps,
But no, to its own dream world.
Stanza 1
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The narrator hears someone say "our Bog is dood" in "accents mild." The repetition of the phrase emphasizes its importance, and the use of the word "dood" instead of "dead" adds a childlike quality to the poem.
The narrator asks for an explanation, but the speakers "grew a little wild." This suggests that the topic of death is uncomfortable or taboo, and that the speakers are not willing to talk about it openly.
Stanza 2
In the second stanza, the narrator asks how the speakers know that the Bog is dead. They respond by saying that "yesterday they sold the drain." This is a clever play on words, as the selling of the drain could be seen as a metaphor for the draining of life from the Bog.
The use of the word "darling" to address the narrator suggests a familial or close relationship between the speakers and the narrator, but also adds a layer of irony to the discussion of death.
Stanza 3
The third stanza shifts the focus to the natural world. The image of an oak and an elm tree "sculptured in the sky" is a beautiful and striking one. The use of the word "sculptured" implies that these trees are more than just natural objects - they are works of art.
The pond below is described as "more still than glass," which creates a sense of calm and stillness. The cows lying in the grass are a peaceful image, but also a reminder of the impermanence of life.
Stanza 4
The fourth stanza introduces the idea of distance and blurred lines. The image of a train going somewhere creates a sense of movement and change, but the fact that the destination is unknown adds a layer of uncertainty.
The line "to its own dream world" is particularly intriguing. It suggests that the train is not going to a physical place, but rather a mental or emotional one. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for death - a journey to a place beyond the physical world.
Stanza 5
The fifth stanza returns to the image of the natural world. The "buttercups" and "daisies" are delicate and beautiful, but also fleeting. The fact that they are "picked" suggests that they are not immortal, but rather subject to the whims of human desire.
The line "the blue sky all a flock of sheep" is a clever play on words. The clouds in the sky are compared to sheep, which adds a sense of playfulness to the poem. But the fact that the sky is described as "a flock" suggests that even the most beautiful and seemingly eternal things are subject to change.
Stanza 6
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the idea of the Bog being dead. The use of the word "chrysalis" is particularly interesting. A chrysalis is the cocoon in which a butterfly transforms from a caterpillar. This suggests that even in death, there is the possibility of transformation and growth.
The final image of the "moon like a flower" is both beautiful and haunting. The moon is often associated with the cycle of life and death, and the idea of it being a flower suggests that even in death, there is the possibility of beauty and growth.
Interpretation
So what does it all mean? "Our Bog Is Dood" is a poem about death, but it's also about acceptance and transformation. The Bog is dead, but life goes on. The natural world is both beautiful and fleeting, but even in death there is the possibility of growth and transformation.
The use of playful language and unexpected imagery adds a layer of complexity to the poem. It's both serious and lighthearted, which makes it a more accessible exploration of the human experience.
Overall, "Our Bog Is Dood" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. It's a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is the possibility of growth and transformation.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Our Bog Is Dood: A Masterpiece of Dark Humor
Stevie Smith's poem "Our Bog Is Dood" is a masterpiece of dark humor. It is a short, simple poem that packs a powerful punch. At first glance, it may seem like a silly little poem about a bog, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a deeper meaning about the human condition.
The poem begins with the line "Our Bog is dood, and don't you know it?" This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a statement of fact, but it is also a statement of resignation. The bog is dead, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. This line also introduces the theme of death, which runs throughout the poem.
The second line of the poem is "Nobody cares, and nobody knows it." This line is a commentary on the human condition. We are all so wrapped up in our own lives that we often fail to notice the world around us. We are oblivious to the fact that the bog is dead, just as we are oblivious to many of the other problems in the world.
The third line of the poem is "The cows are gone, they've gone to kloof." This line is a reference to the fact that the cows have left the bog because it is no longer a viable source of food for them. This line is also a commentary on the fact that when something is no longer useful, we abandon it. We are a society that is obsessed with progress and efficiency, and we often discard things that are no longer useful to us.
The fourth line of the poem is "And how did the bog get dood?". This line is a question that is never answered in the poem. It is left up to the reader to decide how the bog died. This line is also a commentary on the fact that we often don't know why things happen. We are often left to speculate about the causes of events, and we may never know the truth.
The fifth line of the poem is "Nobody knows, nobody cares." This line is a repetition of the second line of the poem. It reinforces the idea that we are all too wrapped up in our own lives to notice the world around us.
The sixth line of the poem is "We'll go on living as long as we can." This line is a statement of resignation. It acknowledges the fact that we are all going to die eventually, but we will continue to live our lives as best we can until that time comes.
The seventh and final line of the poem is "Dood, dood, dood." This line is a repetition of the word "dood" from the first line of the poem. It is a reminder that the bog is dead, and that death is a constant presence in our lives.
Overall, "Our Bog Is Dood" is a powerful poem that uses dark humor to comment on the human condition. It is a reminder that we are all going to die eventually, and that we should make the most of the time we have. It is also a commentary on the fact that we often fail to notice the world around us, and that we are often too wrapped up in our own lives to care about the problems of others. Stevie Smith's poem is a masterpiece of simplicity and depth, and it is a reminder that sometimes the most profound messages can be found in the simplest of things.
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