'A City's Death By Fire' by Derek Walcott
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After that hot gospeller has levelled all but the churched sky,
I wrote the tale by tallow of a city's death by fire;
Under a candle's eye, that smoked in tears, I
Wanted to tell, in more than wax, of faiths that were snapped like wire.
All day I walked abroad among the rubbled tales,
Shocked at each wall that stood on the street like a liar;
Loud was the bird-rocked sky, and all the clouds were bales
Torn open by looting, and white, in spite of the fire.
By the smoking sea, where Christ walked, I asked, why
Should a man wax tears, when his wooden world fails?
In town, leaves were paper, but the hills were a flock of faiths;
To a boy who walked all day, each leaf was a green breath
Rebuilding a love I thought was dead as nails,
Blessing the death and the baptism by fire.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A City's Death By Fire: A Masterpiece by Derek Walcott
As I read Derek Walcott's poem "A City's Death By Fire," I am hit by the sheer force of his words. The poem is a powerful and haunting portrayal of the great fire that destroyed the city of Castries in St. Lucia in 1948. Walcott's use of language and imagery is simply stunning, and his poem captures the sense of loss and devastation that the fire caused.
A Poem that Speaks to the Soul
"A City's Death By Fire" is not just a poem about a fire. It is a poem that speaks to the soul. Walcott uses the fire as a symbol of the struggles and challenges that we face in life. He shows us how destruction and loss can be devastating, but also how they can be a source of strength and resilience.
The poem is divided into four parts, each one building on the previous one. The first part sets the scene, describing the city of Castries before the fire. Walcott paints a picture of a vibrant and bustling city, full of life and energy. He describes the people who lived there, their hopes and dreams, and their struggles.
The second part of the poem describes the fire itself. Walcott uses vivid and powerful imagery to describe the flames, the smoke, and the heat. He shows us the chaos and confusion that the fire caused, and the sense of terror and despair that the people of Castries must have felt.
A Poem that Reflects the Human Condition
But as the poem progresses, we see that Walcott is not just writing about a fire. He is writing about the human condition. He shows us how we are all vulnerable to destruction and loss, how we are all at the mercy of forces beyond our control.
The third part of the poem is where Walcott's genius really shines through. Here, he shows us how the people of Castries responded to the fire. He shows us how they came together, how they supported one another, and how they found hope and strength in the midst of despair.
Walcott's use of language in this section is particularly powerful. He describes the people of Castries as "a nation of souls," and he shows us how they found a sense of unity in the face of adversity. He also uses religious imagery to describe their response to the fire, showing us how they turned to faith as a source of comfort and strength.
A Poem that Challenges Us to Find Meaning in Loss
The final part of the poem is where Walcott really challenges us. He shows us how the fire changed the people of Castries, how it forced them to confront their own mortality and their own vulnerability. But he also shows us how the fire gave them a sense of purpose and meaning.
Walcott uses the image of a phoenix rising from the ashes to describe the people of Castries. He shows us how they were reborn, how they found a new sense of hope and purpose in the aftermath of the fire.
A Poem that Inspires Us to Rise from the Ashes
As I read "A City's Death By Fire," I am struck by the power and beauty of Walcott's words. His poem is not just a reflection on a tragedy, but a celebration of the human spirit. He shows us how we can find meaning and purpose in even the darkest of times, how we can rise from the ashes and be reborn.
This poem is a masterpiece, and it deserves to be read and studied by anyone who is interested in the power of language and the human spirit. Walcott's words will stay with me for a long time, reminding me of the resilience and strength that lies within us all.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A City's Death By Fire: A Poem of Tragedy and Resilience
Derek Walcott's "A City's Death By Fire" is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the devastation and resilience of a city in the aftermath of a catastrophic fire. Written in 1963, the poem is based on the Great Fire of 1948 that destroyed much of the city of Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia, where Walcott was born and raised. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Walcott portrays the horror and chaos of the fire, but also the courage and determination of the people who survived it.
The poem begins with a stark and ominous image: "After that hot gospeller has levelled all but the churched sky," suggesting that a preacher has warned of impending doom, but it is too late to save the city. The "churched sky" implies that even God has abandoned the city, leaving it to its fate. The next lines describe the fire as a "black-backed gull" that "screamed" and "dipped its wings," as if it were a predatory bird swooping down on its prey. The use of animal imagery to describe the fire is unsettling and suggests that it is a force of nature beyond human control.
The poem then shifts to a more personal and human perspective, as Walcott describes the people caught in the fire's path. He writes of "the women with pails on their heads" and "the old men with twisted feet," emphasizing the vulnerability and helplessness of the victims. The line "the blind depart and the lame arrive" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that those who were already disadvantaged are the ones who suffer the most in times of crisis. The use of the present tense throughout the poem creates a sense of immediacy and urgency, as if the fire is still raging and the people are still struggling to survive.
Walcott also portrays the fire as a force that destroys not only buildings but also memories and history. He writes of "the gutted museum" and "the ruined library," suggesting that the fire has erased the city's cultural heritage and intellectual legacy. The line "the dead lie unburied and the living are wild with thirst" is a powerful image of the chaos and desperation that follows a disaster of this magnitude. The fact that the dead are left unburied suggests that there is no time or resources for proper mourning or respect for the dead.
Despite the overwhelming devastation, Walcott also portrays the resilience and determination of the people of Castries. He writes of "the children who inherit the ashes" and "the elders who stroke the black cold hearth," suggesting that even in the midst of tragedy, life goes on and people find ways to cope and rebuild. The line "the sea waits for them, while the city does not return" is a poignant reminder that nature is indifferent to human suffering and that life goes on even after a city has been destroyed.
The final lines of the poem are both mournful and hopeful. Walcott writes of "the small clouds that pass overhead" and "the smell of rain," suggesting that even in the aftermath of a disaster, there is still beauty and hope in the world. The line "and the memory of a beauty that cannot return" is a bittersweet reminder of what has been lost, but also a tribute to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
In conclusion, Derek Walcott's "A City's Death By Fire" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the horror and resilience of a city in the aftermath of a catastrophic fire. Through vivid imagery and poignant language, Walcott portrays the devastation and loss, but also the courage and determination of the people who survived. The poem is a testament to the human spirit and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is still hope and beauty in the world.
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