'After The Last Dynasty' by Stanley Kunitz
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Reading in Li Po
how "the peach blossom follows the water"
I keep thinking of you
because you were so much like
Chairman Mao,
naturally with the sex
transposed
and the figure slighter.
Loving you was a kind
of Chinese guerilla war.
Thanks to your lightfoot genius
no Eighth Route Army
kept its lines more fluid,
traveled with less baggage
so nibbled the advantage.
Even with your small bad heart
you made a dance of departures.
In the cold spring rains
when last you failed me
I had nothing left to spend
but a red crayon language
on the character of the enemy
to break appointments,
to fight us not
with his strength
but with his weakness,
to kill us
not with his health
but with his sickness.
Pet, spitfire, blue-eyed pony,
here is a new note
I want to pin on your door,
though I am ten years late
and you are nowhere:
Tell me,
are you stillmistress of the valley,
what trophies drift downriver,
why did you keep me waiting?
Submitted by Jen
Editor 1 Interpretation
After The Last Dynasty: An Intersection of the Personal and the Historical
Stanley Kunitz's poem, "After The Last Dynasty," is a complex work of art that intertwines personal and historical themes. The poem explores the aftermath of the collapse of the last Chinese dynasty and the speaker's personal journey through aging and loss. Kunitz's use of vivid imagery, metaphorical language, and shifts in tone and form create a multidimensional landscape that invites readers to reflect on the interconnection between individual and collective experience.
Background and Analysis
"At the Last Dynasty" is a poem that meditates on the ruins of a once-great empire and the personal struggles of the speaker. The poem is divided into four sections, with each section focusing on a different aspect of the speaker's experience. The first section describes the collapse of the Chinese empire and its aftermath. The speaker describes the "stone ruins" left behind and the "ashes" that "conceal the bones of the emperors." The imagery of destruction and decay is a powerful reminder of the transience of all things, even empires.
The second section of the poem shifts focus to the speaker's own mortality. The speaker describes himself as a "ghost" who has "outlived himself." The imagery of death and decay is continued here, but the speaker's focus is more inwardly directed. He is aware of his own limited time on earth and feels a sense of sadness and regret for all that he has lost.
The third section of the poem is perhaps the most personal. The speaker recalls a time when he was young and full of hope. He remembers how he used to dance "with the grace of a young god" and how he "believed in the music of the spheres." The imagery here is one of lightness and joy, a stark contrast to the darkness and decay of the previous sections. The speaker's nostalgia for the past is palpable, and readers are invited to reflect on their own memories of youth and lost innocence.
The final section of the poem is perhaps the most hopeful. The speaker describes how he has come to accept his own mortality and to find peace in the knowledge that all things must come to an end. He describes how he has learned to "listen to the wind" and to "live in a world without end." The imagery here is one of acceptance and transcendence. The speaker has moved beyond his own personal struggles and has come to a place of acceptance and understanding.
Interpretation
"At the Last Dynasty" is a poem that explores the intersection of the personal and the historical. On the surface, the poem is about the collapse of a great empire and the personal struggles of the speaker. However, a deeper reading of the poem reveals that these two themes are intimately connected. The collapse of the Chinese empire serves as a metaphor for the speaker's own struggle with mortality and loss.
The imagery of decay and destruction is used to great effect in the poem. The stone ruins of the Chinese empire are a powerful symbol of the impermanence of all things, including empires and human life. The ashes that conceal the bones of the emperors are a reminder that even the most powerful and influential people will one day be forgotten. This imagery is mirrored in the speaker's own struggle with aging and death. He is aware of his own limited time on earth and feels a sense of sadness and regret for all that he has lost.
The poem also explores the theme of memory and nostalgia. The third section of the poem is a powerful evocation of the speaker's memories of youth and lost innocence. The imagery here is one of lightness and joy, a stark contrast to the darkness and decay of the previous sections. This section serves as a reminder that even in the midst of loss and decay, there is still beauty and joy to be found in life.
Finally, the poem explores the theme of acceptance and transcendence. The final section of the poem is a powerful meditation on the acceptance of death and the transcendence of human struggle. The speaker has come to a place of acceptance and understanding, and he has learned to find peace in the knowledge that all things must come to an end. This section serves as a reminder that even in the face of loss and decay, there can be hope and transcendence.
Conclusion
Stanley Kunitz's "After The Last Dynasty" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the intersection of the personal and the historical. The poem invites readers to reflect on the impermanence of all things, including empires and human life. It also explores themes of memory, nostalgia, acceptance, and transcendence. The use of vivid imagery, metaphorical language, and shifts in tone and form create a multidimensional landscape that invites readers to engage with the poem on multiple levels. This is a poem that rewards careful reading and reflection, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to explore the most complex and profound human experiences.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
After The Last Dynasty: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression
Stanley Kunitz, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote the poem "After The Last Dynasty" in 1961. The poem is a masterpiece of poetic expression that explores the themes of time, history, and the human condition. It is a powerful and evocative work that has captivated readers for decades.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the human experience. The first stanza is a meditation on time and the passage of history. Kunitz writes, "Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils." This line is a powerful reminder of the transience of life and the inevitability of death. It is a poignant reflection on the human condition and the fleeting nature of our existence.
The second stanza of the poem is a reflection on the legacy of history. Kunitz writes, "The past is a bucket of ashes." This line is a powerful metaphor for the way in which history can be both illuminating and destructive. The ashes of the past can be used to fertilize the present, but they can also smother it. Kunitz is reminding us that we must be careful not to be consumed by the past, but rather to use it as a source of inspiration and guidance.
The final stanza of the poem is a meditation on the present moment. Kunitz writes, "The present is a naked lady, / always a little further off." This line is a powerful metaphor for the way in which the present is always just out of reach. It is a reminder that we must live in the moment and appreciate the beauty of life as it unfolds before us.
One of the most striking aspects of "After The Last Dynasty" is the way in which Kunitz uses language to create a sense of depth and complexity. The poem is full of rich imagery and metaphors that evoke a wide range of emotions and ideas. For example, in the second stanza, Kunitz writes, "The past is a bucket of ashes / so live not in your yesterdays." This line is a powerful reminder of the importance of living in the present moment and not being consumed by the past.
Another striking aspect of the poem is the way in which Kunitz uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and momentum. For example, in the first stanza, he repeats the phrase "Time is a great teacher" twice, creating a sense of emphasis and urgency. This repetition is a powerful reminder of the importance of time and the need to make the most of every moment.
Overall, "After The Last Dynasty" is a powerful and evocative work that explores the themes of time, history, and the human condition. It is a reminder of the transience of life and the importance of living in the present moment. It is a work of art that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire and captivate readers today.
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