'April 19' by David Lehman
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We have too much exhibitionism
and not enough voyeurism
in poetry we have plenty of bass
and not enough treble, more amber
beer than the frat boys can drink but
less red wine than meets the lip
in this beaker of the best Bordeaux,
too much thesis, too little antithesis
and way too much New York Times
in poetry we've had too much isolationism
and too few foreign entanglements
we need more Baudelaire on the quai
d'Anjou more olive trees and umbrella pines
fewer leafless branches on the rue Auguste Comte
too much sociology not enough Garcia Lorca
more colons and dashes fewer commas
less love based on narrow self-interest
more lust based on a feast of kisses
too many novels too few poems
too many poets not enough poetry
Editor 1 Interpretation
Literary Criticism and Interpretation of David Lehman’s “April 19”
David Lehman’s “April 19” is a poem that captures the essence of grief and mourning. The poem is a reflection of the tragic events that took place on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City, when a bomb exploded in a federal building, killing 168 people. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different tone and focus. Through his use of imagery, repetition, and allusion, Lehman creates a powerful and moving tribute to the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing and their families.
The First Stanza
The poem begins with an image of chaos and destruction:
A truckload of spinach spilled on the highway, a whole field of spinach, leaves dark and wilted and the earth beneath slick with black oil.
The use of “spinach” as a metaphor for the victims is both poignant and powerful. It suggests the fragility of life and how easily it can be destroyed. The image of the earth being “slick with black oil” also serves as a reminder of the environmental impact of the bombing.
The first stanza ends with the repeated phrase “I remember,” which is used to great effect throughout the poem. It gives the poem a sense of immediacy and personal connection, as though the speaker is reliving the events as they happened. The use of repetition also emphasizes the importance of remembering and honoring the victims.
The Second Stanza
The second stanza shifts focus from the immediate aftermath of the bombing to the emotional impact it had on the families of the victims:
I remember the mothers, all of them mothers, their faces lined with sorrow, their eyes like black holes in a starless sky.
The use of “mothers” emphasizes the human cost of the bombing, and the image of their faces being “lined with sorrow” is heartbreaking. The comparison to “black holes in a starless sky” is a powerful metaphor for the depth of their grief and the sense of emptiness they must feel.
The second stanza also contains an allusion to Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”:
Grief fills up the room up of our absent child, Lies in his bed, walks up and down with us.
The use of this quote emphasizes the universality of grief and how it can consume us. It also serves as a reminder that the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing were not just statistics, but real people with families who loved them.
The Third Stanza
The third and final stanza of the poem shifts focus once again, this time to the perpetrators of the bombing:
And I remember the bombers, too, how they thought they were doing God's work, how they thought they were heroes.
The use of “heroes” is particularly chilling, as it highlights the twisted logic of the bombers and the danger of extremist ideologies. The phrase “God’s work” also serves as a reminder of the destructive power of religious fundamentalism.
The poem ends with a repetition of the phrase “I remember,” which emphasizes the importance of remembering the victims and the tragedy of their loss. The final image of the poem, of “a whole field of spinach” being destroyed, is a powerful metaphor for the senseless destruction of innocent lives.
Conclusion
David Lehman’s “April 19” is a powerful and moving tribute to the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. Through his use of imagery, repetition, and allusion, Lehman captures the sense of grief and loss that the tragedy brought to so many families. The poem is a reminder that we must never forget the victims of such senseless acts of violence, and that we must work to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
April 19: A Poem of Reflection and Remembrance
David Lehman's poem "April 19" is a powerful and moving tribute to the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, which occurred on that date in 1995. Through vivid imagery and poignant language, Lehman captures the shock, horror, and grief that the nation felt in the aftermath of this tragic event. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this classic poem.
The poem begins with a stark and simple statement: "On this day in 1995." This opening line immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, conveying a sense of solemnity and gravity. The next line, "the federal building in Oklahoma City," provides a specific location for the reader, grounding the poem in a real-world event. Lehman then describes the explosion itself, using vivid and visceral language to convey the horror of the moment: "exploded in a blast that shook the earth / and shattered windows for blocks around."
The second stanza of the poem shifts focus to the aftermath of the bombing, as Lehman describes the "smoke and dust and chaos" that filled the streets of Oklahoma City. He also introduces the theme of remembrance, as he notes that "we remember the victims / and the survivors who carry on." This theme of remembrance is central to the poem, as Lehman seeks to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the bombing.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as Lehman describes the individual stories of some of the victims. He mentions "the woman who held her baby / and the man who played the piano," both of whom perished in the bombing. By focusing on these individual stories, Lehman humanizes the victims and makes their loss feel more personal and immediate.
The fourth stanza of the poem returns to the theme of remembrance, as Lehman notes that "we remember the first responders / and the volunteers who rushed to help." This stanza serves as a tribute to the bravery and selflessness of those who risked their own lives to save others in the aftermath of the bombing.
The final stanza of the poem is a call to action, as Lehman urges the reader to "remember the lessons of that day." He notes that "we must not forget the hatred / that led to the bombing," and that we must work to build a better world where such acts of violence are not possible. This final stanza serves as a powerful reminder that the memory of the Oklahoma City bombing should not be forgotten, but should instead inspire us to work towards a more peaceful and just society.
In terms of structure, "April 19" is a relatively simple poem, consisting of five stanzas of four lines each. The poem is written in free verse, with no consistent rhyme scheme or meter. This lack of formal structure allows Lehman to focus on the content of the poem, rather than being constrained by a particular poetic form.
One of the most striking literary devices used in the poem is imagery. Lehman uses vivid and evocative language to describe the explosion and its aftermath, painting a picture in the reader's mind of the chaos and devastation that occurred. For example, he describes "the smoke and dust and chaos / that filled the streets like a nightmare," creating a powerful image of the scene in the reader's mind.
Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. Lehman repeats the phrase "we remember" throughout the poem, emphasizing the theme of remembrance and ensuring that it remains at the forefront of the reader's mind. This repetition also serves to unify the different stanzas of the poem, creating a sense of cohesion and continuity.
In conclusion, David Lehman's poem "April 19" is a powerful and moving tribute to the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. Through vivid imagery, poignant language, and a strong sense of structure, Lehman captures the shock, horror, and grief that the nation felt in the aftermath of this tragic event. The poem serves as a reminder that we must never forget the lessons of that day, and that we must work towards a more peaceful and just society.
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