'The Broken Balance' by Robinson Jeffers
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I. Reference to a Passage in Plutarch's Life of Sulla
The people buying and selling, consuming pleasures, talking in the archways,
Were all suddenly struck quiet
And ran from under stone to look up at the sky: so shrill and mournful,
So fierce and final, a brazen
Pealing of trumpets high up in the air, in the summer blue over Tuscany.
They marvelled; the soothsayers answered:
"Although the Gods are little troubled toward men, at the end of each period
A sign is declared in heaven
Indicating new times, new customs, a changed people; the Romans
Rule, and Etruria is finished;
A wise mariner will trim the sails to the wind."
I heard yesterday
So shrill and mournful a trumpet-blast,
It was hard to be wise.... You must eat change and endure; not be much troubled
For the people; they will have their happiness.
When the republic grows too heavy to endure, then Caesar will carry It;
When life grows hateful, there's power ...
II. To the Children
Power's good; life is not always good but power's good.
So you must think when abundance
Makes pawns of people and all the loaves are one dough.
The steep singleness of passion
Dies; they will say, "What was that?" but the power triumphs.
Loveliness will live under glass
And beauty will go savage in the secret mountains.
There is beauty in power also.
You children must widen your minds' eyes to take mountains
Instead of faces, and millions
Instead of persons; not to hate life; and massed power
After the lone hawk's dead.
III
That light blood-loving weasel, a tongue of yellow
Fire licking the sides of the gray stones,
Has a more passionate and more pure heart
In the snake-slender flanks than man can imagine;
But he is betrayed by his own courage,
The man who kills him is like a cloud hiding a star.
Then praise the jewel-eyed hawk and the tall blue heron;
The black cormorants that fatten their sea-rock
With shining slime; even that ruiner of anthills
The red-shafted woodpecker flying,
A white star between blood-color wing-clouds,
Across the glades of the wood and the green lakes of shade.
These live their felt natures; they know their norm
And live it to the brim; they understand life.
While men moulding themselves to the anthill have choked
Their natures until the souls the in them;
They have sold themselves for toys and protection:
No, but consider awhile: what else? Men sold for toys.
Uneasy and fractional people, having no center
But in the eyes and mouths that surround them,
Having no function but to serve and support
Civilization, the enemy of man,
No wonder they live insanely, and desire
With their tongues, progress; with their eyes, pleasure; with their hearts, death.
Their ancestors were good hunters, good herdsmen and swordsman,
But now the world is turned upside down;
The good do evil, the hope's in criminals; in vice
That dissolves the cities and war to destroy them.
Through wars and corruptions the house will fall.
Mourn whom it falls on. Be glad: the house is mined, it will fall.
IV
Rain, hail and brutal sun, the plow in the roots,
The pitiless pruning-iron in the branches,
Strengthen the vines, they are all feeding friends
Or powerless foes until the grapes purple.
But when you have ripened your berries it is time to begin to perish.
The world sickens with change, rain becomes poison,
The earth is a pit, it Is time to perish.
The vines are fey, the very kindness of nature
Corrupts what her cruelty before strengthened.
When you stand on the peak of time it is time to begin to perish.
Reach down the long morbid roots that forget the plow,
Discover the depths; let the long pale tendrils
Spend all to discover the sky, now nothing is good
But only the steel mirrors of discovery . . .
And the beautiful enormous dawns of time, after we perish.
V
Mourning the broken balance, the hopeless prostration of the earth
Under men's hands and their minds,
The beautiful places killed like rabbits to make a city,
The spreading fungus, the slime-threads
And spores; my own coast's obscene future: I remember the farther
Future, and the last man dying
Without succession under the confident eyes of the stars.
It was only a moment's accident,
The race that plagued us; the world resumes the old lonely immortal
Splendor; from here I can even
Perceive that that snuffed candle had something . . . a fantastic virtue,
A faint and unshapely pathos . . .
So death will flatter them at last: what, even the bald ape's by-shot
Was moderately admirable?
VI. Palinode
All summer neither rain nor wave washes the cormorants'
Perch, and their droppings have painted it shining white.
If the excrement of fish-eaters makes the brown rock a snow-mountain
At noon, a rose in the morning, a beacon at moonrise
On the black water: it is barely possible that even men's present
Lives are something; their arts and sciences (by moonlight)
Not wholly ridiculous, nor their cities merely an offense.
VII
Under my windows, between the road and the sea-cliff, bitter wild grass
Stands narrowed between the people and the storm.
The ocean winter after winter gnaws at its earth, the wheels and the feet
Summer after summer encroach and destroy.
Stubborn green life, for the cliff-eater I cannot comfort you, ignorant which color,
Gray-blue or pale-green, will please the late stars;
But laugh at the other, your seed shall enjoy wonderful vengeances and suck
The arteries and walk in triumph on the faces.
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Broken Balance: A Critical Analysis
Robinson Jeffers' poem "The Broken Balance" is a powerful and thought-provoking work that explores the relationship between man and nature. Written in the early 1940s, during a time of great ecological and social upheaval, the poem reflects Jeffers' deep concerns about the impact of human civilization on the natural world. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the poem's themes, style, and structure to gain a deeper understanding of this classic work.
Theme
At its core, "The Broken Balance" is a poem about the destruction of nature caused by human civilization. Jeffers presents a stark contrast between the beauty and harmony of the natural world and the destructive, selfish nature of human society. The poem's first stanza sets the tone for this contrast, describing the "fragile creatures" of the natural world in vivid detail:
As swimmers dare
to lie face to the sky
and water bears them,
as hawks rest upon air
and air sustains them,
so would I learn to attain
freefall, and float
into Creator Spirit's deep embrace,
knowing no effort earns
that all-surrounding grace.
Here, Jeffers highlights the natural world's ability to sustain life effortlessly, with swimmers and hawks alike relying on air and water to support them. In contrast, the following stanzas describe the destructive impact of human civilization, which has upset the "balance" of nature:
I am properly taught,
and a man of the world,
these things are contained in the
interval between science and science,
but I feel nothing, just the romance
of Tristan and Isolde.
The train whistles and wheels rumble,
and I am not deluded
that I have a place
in a pattern called the Great Chain of Being.
Here, Jeffers expresses his frustration with the way human society has become disconnected from the natural world. The speaker is "properly taught" in the ways of science and technology, but he feels nothing and is not deluded by the idea that he has a place in the natural order. The train whistles and rumbling wheels are a symbol of human progress, but they also represent the reckless destruction of nature.
The poem goes on to describe the devastating impact of human civilization on the natural world, including the destruction of forests, the pollution of rivers and oceans, and the extinction of countless species. Jeffers makes it clear that the consequences of our actions will be dire, both for the natural world and for ourselves:
The beauty of things was born before
eyes and sufficient to itself;
the heart-breaking beauty
Will remain when there is no heart
To break for it.
Here, Jeffers suggests that even if human society were to collapse and disappear, the beauty of the natural world would endure. However, he reminds us that the consequences of our actions will be felt long after we are gone, leaving a broken world for future generations.
Style
Jeffers' style in "The Broken Balance" is characterized by its simplicity and directness. The poem is written in free verse, with no specific rhyme scheme or meter, and the language is straightforward and easy to understand. This simplicity is intentional, as it allows Jeffers to convey his message clearly and without distraction.
However, despite its simplicity, the poem is full of vivid and powerful imagery. Jeffers' descriptions of the natural world are particularly striking, with phrases like "the beauty of things" and "the heart-breaking beauty" evoking a sense of awe and wonder. His descriptions of the destructive impact of human civilization are equally vivid, with images of "waste and destruction" and "the blackened woods."
Structure
The structure of "The Broken Balance" is simple but effective. The poem is divided into five stanzas, each with a distinct theme or focus. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, describing the beauty and harmony of the natural world. The second and third stanzas introduce the theme of human civilization and its destructive impact on nature. The fourth stanza describes the consequences of our actions, while the final stanza returns to the theme of the natural world's enduring beauty.
Within each stanza, Jeffers uses enjambment to create a sense of flow and unity. Lines such as "so would I learn to attain / freefall, and float" and "I am not deluded / that I have a place" create a natural rhythm that mimics the flow of nature itself.
Interpretation
"The Broken Balance" is a powerful and timely poem that speaks to our current moment in history. The poem's themes of environmental destruction and the disconnect between human society and the natural world are more relevant today than ever before. Jeffers' message is clear: if we continue to ignore the consequences of our actions, we risk destroying the very world that sustains us.
However, the poem is not without hope. Jeffers' descriptions of the natural world's enduring beauty suggest that it is not too late to change course. If we can learn to appreciate and respect the natural world, we may yet be able to restore the balance that has been broken.
In conclusion, "The Broken Balance" is a timeless classic that speaks to the urgent need for environmental awareness and action. Jeffers' message is as relevant today as it was when the poem was written over 70 years ago. As we face the challenges of climate change and ecological destruction, we would do well to heed his words and work to restore the balance that has been broken.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Broken Balance: A Poem of Nature's Wrath
Robinson Jeffers' The Broken Balance is a classic poem that speaks to the destructive power of nature and the consequences of human actions on the environment. Written in 1941, during the height of World War II, the poem is a warning against the hubris of humanity and the need for balance and harmony with the natural world.
The poem begins with a description of the natural world, with its "mountains and oceans and deserts and rivers" that have existed for millions of years. Jeffers describes the "balance" that exists in nature, with each element of the environment working together in harmony to create a sustainable ecosystem. However, this balance is fragile, and Jeffers warns that it can be easily disrupted by human actions.
The poem then shifts to a description of human civilization, with its "cities and factories and mines and machines." Jeffers describes the destructive power of human technology, with its ability to "blast and destroy" the natural world. He warns that this destruction is not only physical but also spiritual, as humans lose touch with the natural world and become disconnected from the balance of nature.
Jeffers then turns to the consequences of this destruction, with the natural world responding to human actions with "storms and earthquakes and volcanoes and floods." He describes the wrath of nature as a response to the imbalance created by human actions, with the environment seeking to restore the balance that has been disrupted.
The poem ends with a call to action, with Jeffers urging humanity to "listen to the voice of the earth" and to work towards restoring the balance that has been lost. He warns that if we do not heed this call, we will face the consequences of our actions, with nature responding with even greater force and fury.
The Broken Balance is a powerful poem that speaks to the need for balance and harmony with the natural world. Jeffers' use of language is evocative and powerful, with his descriptions of the natural world and the destructive power of human technology creating a vivid picture of the consequences of our actions.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of balance, with Jeffers describing the delicate equilibrium that exists in nature. He warns that this balance is easily disrupted by human actions, with our technology and industry causing irreparable damage to the environment. This theme is particularly relevant today, with climate change and environmental degradation posing a significant threat to the balance of nature.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of human hubris, with Jeffers warning against the arrogance of humanity in thinking that we can control and dominate the natural world. He describes the destructive power of human technology, with its ability to "blast and destroy" the environment. This theme is particularly relevant today, with the ongoing debate around the role of technology in society and the need to balance progress with sustainability.
The poem also speaks to the spiritual dimension of our relationship with the natural world, with Jeffers warning that our disconnection from nature has a profound impact on our spiritual wellbeing. He describes the consequences of this disconnection as a loss of meaning and purpose, with humanity becoming disconnected from the balance and harmony of the natural world.
Overall, The Broken Balance is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the need for balance and harmony with the natural world. Jeffers' use of language is both beautiful and haunting, with his descriptions of the natural world and the destructive power of human technology creating a vivid picture of the consequences of our actions. The poem is a warning against the hubris of humanity and a call to action to restore the balance that has been lost.
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