'Mother, Among The Dustbins' by Stevie Smith
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Mother, among the dustbins and the manure
I feel the measure of my humanity, an allure
As of the presence of God, I am sure
In the dustbins, in the manure, in the cat at play,
Is the presence of God, in a sure way
He moves there. Mother, what do you say?
I too have felt the presence of God in the broom
I hold, in the cobwebs in the room,
But most of all in the silence of the tomb.
Ah! but that thought that informs the hope of our kind
Is but an empty thing, what lies behind? --
Naught but the vanity of a protesting mind
That would not die. This is the thought that bounces
Within a conceited head and trounces
Inquiry. Man is most frivolous when he pronounces.
Well Mother, I shall continue to think as I do,
And I think you would be wise to do so too,
Can you question the folly of man in the creation of God?
Who are you?
Submitted by Frankie Cheung
Editor 1 Interpretation
Mother, Among The Dustbins: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
As I sit down to analyze and interpret Stevie Smith's classic poem, "Mother, Among The Dustbins," I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and awe. This is a poem that has stood the test of time, resonating with readers for over half a century. And as I read and re-read the lines, I am struck by the depth and complexity of the imagery and symbolism. This is a poem that demands careful attention and analysis, and in the following pages, I will attempt to do just that.
Background Information
Before delving into the poem itself, it might be helpful to provide a bit of background information about the poet and the context in which she wrote. Stevie Smith was born in 1902 in Hull, England, and lived most of her life in London. She was a prolific writer, producing poetry, novels, and plays throughout her career. "Mother, Among The Dustbins" was first published in 1962, when Smith was 60 years old. This was a time of great social and political upheaval in Britain, with the country still recovering from the devastation of World War II and grappling with issues of class, identity, and social justice. Against this backdrop, Smith's poem takes on added significance, as it speaks to the struggles and contradictions of a society in flux.
Analysis
So, let's turn our attention to the poem itself. At first glance, "Mother, Among The Dustbins" might seem like a simple, straightforward piece of verse. The title sets the scene, and the opening lines establish the speaker's presence:
Mother, among the dustbins and the manure
I feel the measure of my humanity,
An allure as of the presence of God,
So intimate, I am at home.
Here, we see the speaker situated in a less-than-ideal environment, surrounded by refuse and waste. And yet, she claims to feel a sense of "humanity" and even "God" in this place. This is a theme that runs throughout the poem: the idea that beauty and meaning can be found even in the most unexpected places.
As the poem progresses, we begin to get a closer look at the speaker's surroundings:
The rats and the cockroaches, the biting flies,
The garbage cans, the decaying meat,
The fish heads and the bones, the rinds and the peelings,
The cartons, the papers, the ashes and the eggshells.
Here, Smith uses a series of images to create a vivid, almost overwhelming portrait of the speaker's environment. The list of refuse items is long and detailed, and it serves to underscore the sense of squalor and decay that surrounds the speaker. And yet, even in the midst of all this filth, there are moments of beauty and grace. Consider, for example, the following lines:
A broken mug with a field of daisies
A cracked tea-cup with a picture of a kitten,
A dirty plate with a motto about love,
A tattered coat with a velvet collar.
Here, we see that even the most mundane, everyday objects can take on a kind of beauty and significance. The broken mug becomes a "field of daisies," the cracked tea-cup a "picture of a kitten." These are small moments of redemption in an otherwise bleak landscape.
As we move towards the end of the poem, the speaker's thoughts turn to her own mortality:
And so I know that I shall shortly go
Away, and be with them,
The ones that are no longer beautiful,
The ones that have no voice.
Here, Smith presents us with a kind of memento mori, a reminder of our own mortality and the inevitability of death. And yet, even in this moment of darkness, there is a glimmer of hope:
And in the silence of the dustbin close
I know that these, my loves,
Will still be gathered, crude, alive,
And I shall love them even in their dirt.
Despite the fact that everything around her is decaying and falling apart, the speaker still finds a way to love and appreciate the world. She sees the beauty and value in things that others might overlook or dismiss. And in doing so, she reminds us that even in the darkest moments, there is still a glimmer of hope and light.
Interpretation
So, what can we make of this poem? What does it mean, and what is Smith trying to say? At its core, "Mother, Among The Dustbins" is a meditation on the meaning of beauty and the human condition. It suggests that even in the most squalid and unappealing environments, there is still something of value and worth. Smith is urging us to look beyond surface appearances and recognize the inherent dignity and beauty of even the most humble and overlooked objects.
But there is more to this poem than just a celebration of the ordinary. Smith is also making a larger point about the nature of life and death. By situating the speaker in a place of decay and decline, she is reminding us that nothing lasts forever. We are all subject to the ravages of time and entropy, and yet even in the face of this inevitability, there is still something to be celebrated and cherished.
Finally, it's worth noting the way that Smith subverts traditional ideas of beauty and worth. In a society that often values the new, the pristine, and the expensive, she finds value and meaning in the discarded and broken. This is a radical idea, and one that challenges us to rethink our own assumptions and prejudices. By valuing the things that others might discard, Smith is calling us to a deeper, more compassionate way of looking at the world.
Conclusion
In the end, "Mother, Among The Dustbins" is a poem that has stood the test of time for a reason. It is a work of art that speaks to some of the most fundamental aspects of the human experience: our mortality, our capacity for joy and sorrow, and our ability to find beauty in unexpected places. Stevie Smith was a poet of rare insight and power, and this poem is a testament to her talent and vision. As we continue to grapple with the challenges and contradictions of our own time, "Mother, Among The Dustbins" remains a powerful reminder of the enduring value of art and the human spirit.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Mother, Among The Dustbins: A Poem of Social Commentary
Stevie Smith's poem "Mother, Among The Dustbins" is a powerful piece of social commentary that explores the themes of poverty, neglect, and the struggle for survival. The poem is written in a simple, conversational style, but it is packed with meaning and emotion. In this analysis, we will explore the various elements of the poem and examine how they contribute to its overall message.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a mother who is rummaging through the dustbins, searching for food for her children. The mother is described as "thin and dirty" and her clothes are "ragged and torn." The image of a mother searching through the trash for food is a powerful one, and it immediately evokes feelings of sadness and pity. The fact that the mother is described as "among the dustbins" rather than "by" or "near" them emphasizes her desperation and the extent to which she has been forced to resort to extreme measures to provide for her family.
The second stanza of the poem introduces a new character, a man who is watching the mother as she searches through the trash. The man is described as "well-dressed" and "well-fed," and he is smoking a cigarette. The contrast between the man and the mother is stark, and it highlights the vast differences in wealth and privilege that exist in society. The fact that the man is smoking a cigarette while the mother is searching for food is particularly poignant, as it emphasizes the frivolousness of the man's wealth and the direness of the mother's situation.
The third stanza of the poem introduces a new element, as the speaker describes the mother's children. The children are described as "hungry and crying," and the mother is trying to comfort them as she searches for food. The image of hungry children is a powerful one, and it immediately evokes feelings of compassion and concern. The fact that the mother is trying to comfort her children while also searching for food emphasizes her strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
The fourth stanza of the poem returns to the man who is watching the mother. The man is described as "smiling," and he offers the mother a coin. The fact that the man is smiling while the mother is in such a dire situation is unsettling, as it suggests that he is either oblivious to her suffering or that he finds it amusing. The fact that he offers her a coin rather than food or other assistance is also significant, as it emphasizes the superficiality of his gesture and the fact that he is not truly invested in helping the mother and her children.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker describes the mother's reaction to the man's offer of a coin. Rather than accepting the coin, the mother "turned away" and continued searching through the trash. This simple gesture is incredibly powerful, as it suggests that the mother would rather continue searching for food than accept the man's superficial gesture of assistance. It also emphasizes the fact that the mother is fiercely independent and determined to provide for her family on her own terms.
Overall, "Mother, Among The Dustbins" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of poverty, neglect, and the struggle for survival. The contrast between the mother and the well-dressed man highlights the vast differences in wealth and privilege that exist in society, while the image of the mother searching through the trash for food evokes feelings of sadness and pity. The fact that the mother is trying to comfort her hungry children while also searching for food emphasizes her strength and resilience, while her refusal to accept the man's superficial gesture of assistance emphasizes her fierce independence and determination. In short, "Mother, Among The Dustbins" is a poem that speaks to the human condition and the struggles that we all face in our daily lives.
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