'A Little History' by David Lehman
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Some people find out they are Jews.
They can't believe it.
Thy had always hated Jews.
As children they had roamed in gangs on winter nights in the old
neighborhood, looking for Jews.
They were not Jewish, they were Irish.
They brandished broken bottles, tough guys with blood on their
lips, looking for Jews.
They intercepted Jewish boys walking alone and beat them up.
Sometimes they were content to chase a Jew and he could elude
them by running away. They were happy just to see him run
away. The coward! All Jews were yellow.
They spelled Jew with a small j jew.
And now they find out they are Jews themselves.
It happened at the time of the Spanish Inquisition.
To escape persecution, they pretended to convert to Christianity.
They came to this country and settled in the Southwest.
At some point oral tradition failed the family, and their
secret faith died.
No one would ever have known if not for the bones that turned up
on the dig.
A disaster. How could it have happened to them?
They are in a state of panic--at first.
Then they realize that it is the answer to their prayers.
They hasten to the synagogue or build new ones.
They are Jews at last!
They are free to marry other Jews, and divorce them, and intermarry
with Gentiles, God forbid.
They are model citizens, clever and thrifty.
They debate the issues.
They fire off earnest letters to the editor.
They vote.
They are resented for being clever and thrifty.
They buy houses in the suburbs and agree not to talk so loud.
They look like everyone else, drive the same cars as everyone else,
yet in their hearts they know they're different.
In every minyan there are always two or three, hated by
the others, who give life to one ugly stereotype or another:
The grasping Jew with the hooked nose or the Ivy League Bolshevik
who thinks he is the agent of world history.
But most of them are neither ostentatiously pious nor
excessively avaricious.
How I envy them! They believe.
How I envy them their annual family reunion on Passover,
anniversary of the Exodus, when all the uncles and aunts and
cousins get together.
They wonder about the heritage of Judaism they are passing along
to their children.
Have they done as much as they could to keep the old embers
burning?
Others lead more dramatic lives.
A few go to Israel.
One of them calls Israel "the ultimate concentration camp."
He tells Jewish jokes.
On the plane he gets tipsy, tries to seduce the stewardess.
People in the Midwest keep telling him reminds them of Woody
Allen.
He wonders what that means. I'm funny? A sort of nervous
intellectual type from New York? A Jew?
Around this time somebody accuses him of not being Jewish enough.
It is said by resentful colleagues that his parents changed their
name from something that sounded more Jewish.
Everything he publishes is scrutinized with reference to "the
Jewish question."
It is no longer clear what is meant by that phrase.
He has already forgotten all the Yiddish he used to know, and
the people of that era are dying out one after another.
The number of witnesses keeps diminishing.
Soon there will be no one left to remind the others and their
children.
That is why he came to this dry place where the bones have come
to life.
To live in a state of perpetual war puts a tremendous burden on the
population. As a visitor he felt he had to share that burden.
With his gift for codes and ciphers, he joined the counter-
terrorism unit of army intelligence.
Contrary to what the spook novels say, he found it possible to
avoid betraying either his country or his lover.
This was the life: strange bedrooms, the perfume of other men's
wives.
As a spy he has a unique mission: to get his name on the front
page of the nation's newspaper of record. Only by doing that
would he get the message through to his immediate superior.
If he goes to jail, he will do so proudly; if they're going to
hang him anyway, he'll do something worth hanging for.
In time he may get used to being the center of attention, but
this was incredible:
To talk his way into being the chief suspect in the most
flamboyant murder case in years!
And he was innocent!
He could prove it!
And what a book he would write when they free him from this prison:
A novel, obliquely autobiographical, set in Vienna in the twilight
of the Hapsburg Empire, in the year that his mother was born.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Little History: An In-Depth Analysis of David Lehman's Classic Poem
Introduction
David Lehman's "A Little History" is a masterful work of poetry that tells a story of love, loss, and memory. The poem is a journey through time and space, taking the reader from New York City to Paris, from the present to the past, and from love to heartbreak.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, structure, and language of "A Little History" in detail. I will also examine the historical and cultural context of the poem and its relevance to contemporary readers.
Themes
One of the central themes of "A Little History" is the passage of time and the role of memory in shaping our understanding of the past. The poem begins with the lines:
"What is the use of history?
It saddens us to think
of all the wars and bloodshed,
all the grief and waste."
These lines suggest a skepticism about the value of historical knowledge, and an awareness of the pain and suffering that history can evoke. However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that Lehman is not rejecting history altogether, but rather exploring the ways in which memory can help us to make sense of the past.
Throughout the poem, Lehman uses personal memories and experiences to connect with historical events and figures. In the second stanza, for example, he writes:
"I remember the night
in Paris when I stood
on the Pont Neuf and watched
the Seine flowing by."
This personal memory of a specific place and time is juxtaposed with an allusion to the French Revolution, as Lehman imagines the "ghosts of Robespierre and Danton" walking the same streets. By connecting his own experiences with history in this way, Lehman suggests that memory can be a powerful tool for understanding the past.
Another theme of "A Little History" is the universal experience of love and loss. The poem is structured around a series of romantic relationships, each of which ends in heartbreak. From the "girl with the beautiful name" who leaves him for another man, to the woman who "went crazy" and was institutionalized, to the lover who died of cancer, Lehman's narrator experiences a range of emotions and relationships over the course of the poem.
Despite the pain and sadness of these experiences, however, the poem ends on a note of hope and resilience. Lehman writes:
"We can't forget the past;
it's how we got where we are.
But we can use it to build
a bridge to the future."
This final stanza suggests that even in the face of heartbreak and loss, we can find meaning and purpose in our memories and experiences, and use them to create a better future.
Structure
The structure of "A Little History" is complex and multi-layered. The poem is divided into nine stanzas of varying lengths, each of which tells a self-contained story. However, these stanzas are also connected thematically and narratively, creating a larger narrative arc that moves from the present to the past and back again.
One of the most striking features of the poem's structure is its use of repetition and variation. The opening line, "What is the use of history?" is echoed in the final stanza, creating a sense of circularity and closure. Similarly, the phrase "a little history" is repeated throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different meaning and context.
Another important aspect of the poem's structure is its use of allusion and intertextuality. Lehman references a wide range of historical, literary, and cultural figures and events, from Shakespeare to Napoleon to the Beatles. These allusions serve to connect the personal experiences of the narrator with larger historical and cultural themes, creating a sense of universality and timelessness.
Language
The language of "A Little History" is both lyrical and conversational, blending formal poetic techniques with colloquial language and slang. Lehman's use of figurative language, such as metaphor and simile, is particularly effective in conveying the emotional intensity of the narrator's experiences. In the third stanza, for example, he writes:
"It was like a bolt from the blue,
like lightning striking the tree
and setting it ablaze."
This vivid imagery creates a sense of immediacy and drama, drawing the reader into the emotional landscape of the poem.
Another notable feature of the poem's language is its use of irony and humor. Lehman occasionally employs a wry or self-deprecating tone, as in the lines:
"I was young and foolish then;
now I'm just foolish."
This use of irony and humor serves to balance the more serious and melancholy aspects of the poem, creating a dynamic and multi-dimensional portrait of the narrator's experiences.
Context
To fully appreciate the significance of "A Little History" within the canon of American poetry, it is important to consider its historical and cultural context. The poem was published in 1993, at a time when the United States was grappling with the aftermath of the Cold War and the Gulf War, as well as the ongoing social and political struggles of the LGBTQ+ community.
Lehman's poem can be seen as a reflection of these larger historical and cultural themes, as well as a response to them. The poem's exploration of memory and history, for example, can be read as a commentary on the need for historical awareness and understanding in the face of complex geopolitical challenges. Similarly, the poem's portrayal of romantic relationships and heartbreak can be seen as a reflection of the changing norms and attitudes surrounding gender and sexuality in the 1990s.
Conclusion
In conclusion, David Lehman's "A Little History" is a rich and complex work of poetry that explores a range of themes and emotions. Through its use of structure, language, and context, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of love, loss, and memory, while also connecting these experiences to larger historical and cultural narratives. As a classic example of American poetry, "A Little History" continues to resonate with readers today, inviting us to reflect on our own memories and experiences, and to use them to create a better future.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Little History: A Poem That Captures the Essence of Life
David Lehman's poem, A Little History, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life in just a few lines. The poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of change. It is a reminder that everything in life is temporary and that we must cherish every moment we have.
The poem begins with the line, "The world is full of mostly invisible things." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It reminds us that there are many things in life that we cannot see or touch, but that still have a profound impact on us. These invisible things could be emotions, memories, or even the passing of time itself.
The next line, "And there is no way to enumerate them," reinforces this idea. There are so many things in life that we cannot count or measure, but that still shape who we are and how we experience the world. This line also suggests that there is a certain mystery to life, and that we may never fully understand all of its complexities.
The poem then takes a turn towards the personal, with the line, "But a person is not one of them." This line suggests that while there are many invisible things in the world, a person is not one of them. We are tangible, physical beings that can be seen and touched. However, the poem goes on to suggest that even though we are physical beings, we are still subject to the same laws of time and change as everything else in the world.
The next few lines of the poem are particularly powerful. Lehman writes, "A person is a collection of visible things / A person is the things she does / A person is the things she says." These lines suggest that while we may be physical beings, we are also defined by our actions and our words. We are not just a collection of atoms and molecules, but also a collection of experiences and memories.
The poem then takes another turn towards the philosophical, with the line, "A person is the places she has been." This line suggests that our experiences and memories are not just limited to our physical bodies, but also extend to the places we have been. Our memories of these places shape who we are and how we experience the world.
The next few lines of the poem are particularly poignant. Lehman writes, "A person is the people she has loved / A person is the things she has lost." These lines suggest that our relationships with others are a fundamental part of who we are. The people we love and the things we have lost shape our experiences and our memories.
The poem then takes a turn towards the universal, with the line, "A person is the things she remembers." This line suggests that our memories are a fundamental part of who we are. They shape our experiences and our perceptions of the world. However, the poem also suggests that our memories are not always reliable. They can be distorted or forgotten over time.
The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful. Lehman writes, "A person is the things she forgets / A person is the things she forgives." These lines suggest that our ability to forget and forgive is a fundamental part of who we are. We are not just defined by our memories, but also by our ability to let go of the past and move forward.
In conclusion, David Lehman's poem, A Little History, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life in just a few lines. The poem is a reminder that everything in life is temporary and that we must cherish every moment we have. It is a reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of change. The poem suggests that while we may be physical beings, we are also defined by our actions, our words, our memories, and our relationships with others. It is a powerful reminder that we are all connected, and that our experiences and memories shape who we are and how we experience the world.
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