'On Being Asked To Write A Poem Against The War In Vietnam' by Hayden Carruth
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Well I have and in fact
more than one and I'll
tell you this too
I wrote one against
Algeria that nightmare
and another against
Korea and another
against the one
I was in
and I don't remember
how many against
the three
when I was a boy
Abyssinia Spain and
Harlan County
and not one
breath was restored
to one
shattered throat
mans womans or childs
not one not
one
but death went on and on
never looking aside
except now and then
with a furtive half-smile
to make sure I was noticing.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Introduction
Hayden Carruth’s poem, On Being Asked To Write A Poem Against The War in Vietnam, is a powerful commentary on the war during a period of great political and social upheaval in the United States. Written in 1966, the poem is a response to Carruth’s friend and fellow poet, Robert Pack, who had asked him to write a poem that spoke out against the war in Vietnam. What follows is a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of the poem, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.
Analysis
The poem opens with a blunt declaration: “I will not write a poem against the war in Vietnam.” This statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem, and immediately challenges the reader’s expectations. Carruth then goes on to explain his position, saying that he would not be able to write a poem against the war because he does not have the necessary knowledge or understanding of the conflict. He goes on to say:
It is not fashionable nor is it profitable
To nobly speak of principles unless one is quite sure
That the audience will agree.
This passage speaks to the idea that speaking out against the war was not popular or profitable during this time in history. Carruth is acknowledging that he is not willing to take the risk of speaking out against the war unless he knows that his audience will be receptive to his message.
Carruth then goes on to describe the horrors of war, saying:
There is no one thing that’s true. It is all true.
In a sense the night is always falling.
Something something about darkness.
This passage is a powerful statement about the nature of war. Carruth is saying that war is not a simple, black-and-white issue. There is no one truth about war, but rather a multitude of truths that coexist in a state of constant tension. The imagery of the night falling suggests a sense of darkness and foreboding, which is further reinforced by the repetition of the word “something.”
Carruth then addresses his friend’s request directly, saying:
Robert, I’m not kidding, you know that.
It’s only a matter of either/ or,
And I must do what I’m supposed to do.
This passage reveals the conflict that Carruth is feeling. He acknowledges that he understands his friend’s request, but also feels a sense of obligation to do what he believes is right. This tension between personal obligation and artistic expression is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The poem then shifts into a more surreal and abstract mode, with Carruth saying:
I cannot use the voice of my singing,
For I have no singing voice.
My poems are not meant to be spoken,
And the man who speaks them is dead.
These lines are rich with metaphorical meaning. Carruth is saying that he cannot use his poetic voice to speak out against the war, because his voice is not meant for that purpose. This suggests that Carruth sees his poetry as having a specific purpose or function, which is not necessarily political or social commentary. The idea of the “man who speaks them is dead” is a powerful image, suggesting that Carruth’s poetry is not something that can be easily co-opted or appropriated by others.
Carruth then goes on to describe the world around him, saying:
The feet of the rats
Running over my ankles
The sewers of my city
Are inhabited by my people,
Monsters and ghosts and men
Riding the crest of a wave
The wave cresting into death and nothingness
This passage has a vivid and haunting quality to it. Carruth is describing a world that is full of darkness and despair, where even the rats and the sewers are inhabited by monsters and ghosts. The image of the wave cresting into death and nothingness is particularly powerful, suggesting a sense of finality and despair.
The poem then concludes with a final statement of defiance, with Carruth saying:
I will die, and what I retain
Surpassing human knowledge
Of the good and evil of this life
Will be tossed back
Into the lap of the indifferent goddess
Who gave it birth.
This is a powerful and haunting conclusion to the poem. Carruth is saying that even in death, he will retain a knowledge and understanding of the world that surpasses human understanding. This knowledge will be returned to the indifferent goddess who gave birth to it, suggesting a sense of futility and despair.
Interpretation
On Being Asked To Write A Poem Against The War in Vietnam is a powerful commentary on the nature of war and the role of the artist in society. Carruth’s refusal to write a poem against the war is not a rejection of the anti-war movement, but rather a reflection of his own sense of obligation and artistic integrity. The poem is full of powerful and haunting imagery, which serves to underscore the sense of despair and futility that Carruth feels about the world around him.
At its core, On Being Asked To Write A Poem Against The War in Vietnam is a meditation on the nature of truth and the role of the artist in society. Carruth is saying that there is no one truth about war, but rather a multitude of truths that coexist in a state of constant tension. He is also saying that the role of the artist is not necessarily to create political or social commentary, but rather to create works of art that have a specific purpose or function.
Overall, On Being Asked To Write A Poem Against The War in Vietnam is a powerful and haunting poem that speaks to the complexities of war and the role of the artist in society. Carruth’s refusal to write a poem against the war is not a rejection of the anti-war movement, but rather a reflection of his own sense of obligation and artistic integrity. The poem is full of powerful and haunting imagery, which serves to underscore the sense of despair and futility that Carruth feels about the world around him.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
On Being Asked To Write A Poem Against The War In Vietnam: A Powerful Anti-War Poem
Hayden Carruth's "On Being Asked To Write A Poem Against The War In Vietnam" is a powerful anti-war poem that speaks to the heart of the human experience. The poem is a reflection on the Vietnam War and the poet's reluctance to write a poem against it. The poem is a powerful statement against war and the destruction it causes.
The poem begins with the poet's reluctance to write a poem against the war. He says, "I have refused, and still refuse, to make a war poem." The poet is not interested in writing a poem that glorifies war or the soldiers who fight in it. He is not interested in writing a poem that celebrates the heroism of war. Instead, he wants to write a poem that speaks to the horror of war and the destruction it causes.
The poet goes on to describe the horrors of war. He says, "It is not the noise in the streets that keeps us from resting, my friend, nor is it the shouts of the young people coming home from the dances. But it is the sobbing of the mothers and wives, the laughter of the young men who have lost their brothers, the silence of the fathers who have lost their sons." The poet is describing the emotional toll that war takes on families and communities. He is saying that war is not just about the soldiers who fight in it, but also about the families and communities that are left behind.
The poet then goes on to describe the physical toll that war takes on soldiers. He says, "It is the bleeding of the feet that makes us keep our shoes on, as in so many dreams, the bleeding of the gums that makes us spit out our teeth." The poet is describing the physical pain and suffering that soldiers endure in war. He is saying that war is not just about the emotional toll it takes on families and communities, but also about the physical toll it takes on soldiers.
The poet then goes on to describe the political and economic reasons for war. He says, "It is the war that is being waged by the rich against the poor, the war that is being waged by the young against the old, the war that is being waged by the black against the white, the war that is being waged by the brown against the yellow." The poet is saying that war is not just about the soldiers who fight in it, but also about the political and economic reasons for war. He is saying that war is often waged by those in power against those who are not in power.
The poet then goes on to describe the futility of war. He says, "It is the war that is being waged by the strong against the weak, the war that is being waged by the rich against the poor, the war that is being waged by the young against the old, the war that is being waged by the black against the white, the war that is being waged by the brown against the yellow." The poet is saying that war is futile because it does not solve the underlying problems that lead to war. He is saying that war only creates more problems and more suffering.
The poem ends with the poet's resolution to write a poem against the war. He says, "But I will not make a war poem. I will make a poem that is not a war poem. I will make a poem about love, and the moon, and the stars, and the sea, and the birds, and the trees, and the flowers, and the clouds, and the sky, and the earth, and the sun." The poet is saying that he will not write a poem that glorifies war or the soldiers who fight in it. Instead, he will write a poem that celebrates the beauty of life and the natural world.
In conclusion, Hayden Carruth's "On Being Asked To Write A Poem Against The War In Vietnam" is a powerful anti-war poem that speaks to the heart of the human experience. The poem is a reflection on the Vietnam War and the poet's reluctance to write a poem against it. The poem is a powerful statement against war and the destruction it causes. The poet is saying that war is not just about the soldiers who fight in it, but also about the families and communities that are left behind. He is saying that war is not just about the emotional toll it takes on families and communities, but also about the physical toll it takes on soldiers. He is saying that war is often waged by those in power against those who are not in power. He is saying that war is futile because it does not solve the underlying problems that lead to war. The poet is saying that he will not write a poem that glorifies war or the soldiers who fight in it. Instead, he will write a poem that celebrates the beauty of life and the natural world.
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