'Justice Denied In Massachusetts' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Let us abandon then our gardens and go home
And sit in the sitting-room
Shall the larkspur blossom or the corn grow under this cloud?
Sour to the fruitful seed
Is the cold earth under this cloud,
Fostering quack and weed, we have marched upon but cannot
conquer;
We have bent the blades of our hoes against the stalks of them.
Let us go home, and sit in the sitting room.
Not in our day
Shall the cloud go over and the sun rise as before,
Beneficent upon us
Out of the glittering bay,
And the warm winds be blown inward from the sea
Moving the blades of corn
With a peaceful sound.
Forlorn, forlorn,
Stands the blue hay-rack by the empty mow.
And the petals drop to the ground,
Leaving the tree unfruited.
The sun that warmed our stooping backs and withered the weed
uprooted—
We shall not feel it again.
We shall die in darkness, and be buried in the rain.
What from the splendid dead
We have inherited —
Furrows sweet to the grain, and the weed subdued —
See now the slug and the mildew plunder.
Evil does overwhelm
The larkspur and the corn;
We have seen them go under.
Let us sit here, sit still,
Here in the sitting-room until we die;
At the step of Death on the walk, rise and go;
Leaving to our children's children the beautiful doorway,
And this elm,
And a blighted earth to till
With a broken hoe.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Justice Denied In Massachusetts: A Critical Analysis
Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem, Justice Denied In Massachusetts, is a masterpiece of political poetry that captures the spirit of a nation grappling with issues of justice and equality. The poem, published in 1928, is a scathing critique of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, which had gripped the American public imagination for years. In this essay, we will examine the poem in detail, analyzing its structure, language, and themes, and exploring the ways in which it speaks to contemporary political issues.
The Structure of the Poem
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which contains four stanzas. The first part of the poem establishes the historical context of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, setting the stage for the critique that follows. The second part of the poem is a blistering indictment of the American justice system, which is shown to be corrupt, racist, and classist. The third part of the poem is a call to action, demanding that the American people rise up against injustice and fight for a better world.
The structure of the poem is carefully crafted, with each part building on the themes and arguments of the previous one. The first part of the poem is characterized by a sense of foreboding, as Millay describes the "little men" who have been condemned to death by a "mighty nation." The second part of the poem is a dramatic shift in tone, as Millay attacks the hypocrisy and inhumanity of the American justice system. The third part of the poem is a call to action, demanding that the American people take responsibility for their complicity in the system and work towards a more just and equal society.
The Language of the Poem
The language of the poem is powerful and evocative, using vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the poet's message. Millay's use of language is particularly effective in the second part of the poem, where she takes on the American justice system with a fierce intensity. The lines "And the night wind answers 'Murder,'" for example, capture the sense of horror and dread that permeated the trial, while the phrase "the court's grown cold about them" suggests the dispassionate, bureaucratic nature of the justice system.
The poem is also notable for its use of repetition and rhyme, which give it a musical quality that enhances its emotional impact. The repeated phrase "Justice denied in Massachusetts" is particularly effective, hammering home the poet's central message and creating a sense of urgency and anger. The rhyme scheme of the poem is also carefully crafted, with the use of slant rhyme and internal rhyme creating a sense of momentum and forward motion.
The Themes of the Poem
The themes of Justice Denied In Massachusetts are numerous and complex, reflecting the poet's engagement with a wide range of political and social issues. One of the central themes of the poem is the corruption of the American justice system, which is shown to be biased against the poor and working-class, as well as against immigrants and people of color. The poem also explores issues of power and privilege, suggesting that the ruling elite in America are able to manipulate the justice system to their advantage.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of collective responsibility. Millay suggests that the American people as a whole are complicit in the injustices of the justice system, and that it is only through collective action that change can be brought about. The poem is also notable for its focus on the human cost of injustice, painting a vivid picture of the suffering of Sacco and Vanzetti and their families.
The Relevance of the Poem Today
Despite being written almost a century ago, Justice Denied In Massachusetts remains relevant and powerful today. The issues of corruption, bias, and inequality that Millay addressed in the poem are still present in American society, and the poem serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. The recent protests against police brutality and systemic racism in the United States are a powerful testament to the continued relevance of Millay's message.
In conclusion, Justice Denied In Massachusetts is a powerful and important work of political poetry that speaks to issues that are still relevant today. The poem's structure, language, and themes are carefully crafted, and they combine to create a work that is both beautiful and searingly critical. As we continue to grapple with issues of justice and equality in our own time, Millay's poem remains a powerful call to action, demanding that we work towards a better world for all.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Justice Denied In Massachusetts: A Poem of Power and Protest
Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Justice Denied In Massachusetts" is a powerful and passionate protest against the execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants who were convicted of robbery and murder in 1920s America. The poem is a searing indictment of the injustice and prejudice that characterized the trial and the subsequent appeals process, and it is a call to action for all those who believe in the principles of justice and equality.
The poem begins with a stark and haunting image of the two men being led to their execution:
"Let us abandon then our gardens and go home And sit in the sitting-room Shall the larkspur blossom or the corn grow under this cloud? Sour to the fruitful seed Is the cold earth under this cloud, Fostering quack and weed, we have marched upon but cannot conquer; We have bent the blades of our hoes against the stalks of them."
The imagery here is powerful and evocative, painting a picture of a world in which justice has been denied and the forces of oppression and prejudice have triumphed. The reference to the larkspur and the corn growing under a cloud is a metaphor for the way in which the lives of Sacco and Vanzetti have been blighted by the injustice of their trial and execution. The image of the "cold earth" fostering "quack and weed" is a metaphor for the way in which the forces of prejudice and oppression have taken root in American society, and the reference to the "blades of our hoes" being bent against the stalks of injustice is a powerful image of the struggle for justice and equality.
The poem then goes on to describe the trial and the appeals process, painting a picture of a justice system that is corrupt and biased against the two men:
"Justice denied in Massachusetts, Speech denied in Massachusetts, Law denied in Massachusetts, The very breath of life denied in Massachusetts, No altar candle flaming, no flowers at the feet of bronze, Even the trees are not allowed to blossom here in peace If we come here we must be brave."
The repetition of the phrase "denied in Massachusetts" is a powerful rhetorical device that emphasizes the extent of the injustice that has been done to Sacco and Vanzetti. The reference to "speech denied" and "law denied" highlights the way in which the two men were denied their basic rights as citizens, and the reference to "the very breath of life denied" is a powerful image of the way in which their lives were taken from them. The reference to "no altar candle flaming" and "no flowers at the feet of bronze" is a reference to the way in which the two men were denied even the most basic human dignity in death, and the reference to the trees not being allowed to blossom in peace is a metaphor for the way in which the forces of oppression and prejudice have blighted American society.
The poem then goes on to describe the reaction of the people to the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti:
"Yet we have brought the ripe fruits of labor And hearts bruised, battered, beaten down, And bloody hands that can not forget, And souls that cry 'innocent' And the children, the children who wave their hands, And sing the anthem of the International."
The reference to "the ripe fruits of labor" is a powerful image of the way in which the two men were hardworking and productive members of society, and the reference to "hearts bruised, battered, beaten down" is a powerful image of the way in which their lives were destroyed by the injustice of their trial and execution. The reference to "bloody hands that can not forget" is a powerful image of the way in which the memory of the injustice done to Sacco and Vanzetti will never be forgotten, and the reference to "souls that cry 'innocent'" is a powerful statement of the belief in their innocence that is held by many. The reference to "the children who wave their hands" and "sing the anthem of the International" is a powerful image of the way in which the struggle for justice and equality is a struggle that transcends national boundaries and unites people of all races and creeds.
The poem ends with a call to action, urging all those who believe in justice and equality to continue the struggle:
"Let us walk through the door of the darkness, Let us enter the death chamber laughing, And stride with arms uplifted in the face of the sun, Glorifying the land of our enemies, We, the children of the land of social justice, We, the children of the land of Tolstoy, We, the children of the land of Lenin, We, the children of the land where the wings of democracy were spread."
The reference to "the door of the darkness" is a powerful image of the struggle for justice and equality, and the reference to "the death chamber" is a reminder of the sacrifice that has been made by those who have fought for these principles. The reference to "arms uplifted in the face of the sun" is a powerful image of the triumph of justice and equality over the forces of oppression and prejudice, and the reference to "glorifying the land of our enemies" is a powerful statement of the belief that even those who oppose us can be brought to see the truth. The reference to "the children of the land of social justice" and "the children of the land of Tolstoy" and "the children of the land of Lenin" and "the children of the land where the wings of democracy were spread" is a powerful statement of the belief that the struggle for justice and equality is a struggle that has been fought by people of all races and creeds throughout history.
In conclusion, Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Justice Denied In Massachusetts" is a powerful and passionate protest against the injustice and prejudice that characterized the trial and execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. The poem is a call to action for all those who believe in the principles of justice and equality, and it is a reminder that the struggle for these principles is a struggle that has been fought by people of all races and creeds throughout history. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and to move people to action, and it is a reminder that the struggle for justice and equality is a struggle that must continue until these principles are fully realized in American society.
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