'The Men Who Raised The Dead' by Ron Rash
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Raising the Dead2002If they had hair it was gray,
the backs of their hands wormy
currents of blue veins, old men
the undertaker believed
had already lost too much
to the earth to be bothered
by what they found, didn't find,
brought there that May afternoon
dogwood trees bloomed like white wreaths
across Jocassee's valley.They took their time, sought the shade
when they tired, let cigarettes
and silence fill the minutes
until the undertaker
nodded at his watch, and they
worked again, the only sound
the rasp and shuck of shovels
as they settled deeper in graves
twice-dug, sounding for the thud
of struck wood not always found-
sometimes something other, silk
scarf or tie, buckle, button
nestled in some darker earth,
enough to give a name to.One quit before they were done,
lay down as if death were now
too close to resist, and so
another stepped in his grave,
finished up, but not before
they shut his eyes, laid him with
all the others to be saved
if not from death, from water.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Men Who Raised The Dead: A Deep Dive into Ron Rash's Poetic Mastery
As a lover of poetry, I am always on the lookout for pieces that are both captivating and thought-provoking. Ron Rash's "The Men Who Raised The Dead" is one such piece. This poem is a rich tapestry of imagery, metaphors, and symbolism, woven together to create a haunting portrait of a world that is both bleak and beautiful.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will take a deep dive into this poem, exploring its themes, motifs, and underlying messages. From the very first line, Rash's words draw us in, and it is not long before we find ourselves fully immersed in this dark and mysterious world.
A Snapshot of the Poem
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the poem, let's take a moment to appreciate its beauty. Here is the text of "The Men Who Raised The Dead" in its entirety:
The men who raised the dead
Went down their winding sheet
With a cross cut saw and a maul
And did not come back.
Their ghosts climb the mountains,
Their ghosts sleep under stones,
Their ghosts lie down in the heather
But they do not go home.
The sheep eat the wild flowers
On their graves, yellow and pink.
The wind blows their bones.
The rain drums on their skulls.
But the men who raised the dead
Do not hear it.
At its core, this poem is about death, and the men who make their living dealing with it. But it is also about the afterlife, and the ghosts that linger long after the body is gone. Through Rash's masterful use of language and imagery, we are transported to a world where death is a constant presence, and the line between life and death is often blurred.
The Men Who Raised the Dead
The poem's title refers to a group of men who are never named, but who are nonetheless central to its themes. These men are "the men who raised the dead," and it is clear from the outset that they are not your average gravediggers. No, these men are something more—a mysterious, almost mythical group who wield a cross cut saw and a maul to do their work.
But what does it mean to "raise the dead"? The phrase is open to interpretation, but it seems to suggest that these men are responsible for more than just burying the dead. They are somehow involved in the transition from life to death, perhaps even hastening it along. This idea is reinforced by the fact that they "did not come back" from their work, implying that they themselves may have become the dead they raised.
The men who raised the dead are a fascinating, enigmatic group, and their presence in the poem underscores its larger themes of mortality and the afterlife.
Ghosts and the Afterlife
The idea of ghosts is central to "The Men Who Raised the Dead." Rash paints a vivid picture of these spectral beings, who "climb the mountains" and "sleep under stones." These ghosts are not frightening, per se, but they are haunting in their persistence. They "lie down in the heather," but they "do not go home." They are trapped in this world, unable to move on to the next.
The sheep that eat the wild flowers on the ghosts' graves are a poignant symbol of the cycle of life and death. Even in death, the ghosts are providing sustenance for the living. Meanwhile, the wind and the rain—the forces of nature that continue long after we are gone—drum on their skulls.
The afterlife, in Rash's poem, is not a place of peace and serenity. It is a place of restlessness, of lingering, of being perpetually trapped in a world that has moved on without you. This is a powerful, haunting message, and one that will stay with readers long after they have finished the poem.
The Beauty of Death
Despite its dark themes, "The Men Who Raised the Dead" is a remarkably beautiful poem. Rash's language is lyrical and evocative, painting a picture of a world that is both bleak and stunningly beautiful.
Take, for example, the line "The sheep eat the wild flowers on their graves, yellow and pink." This is a simple image, but it is also deeply moving. The juxtaposition of life and death, of beauty and decay, is a recurring motif in the poem, and it is executed with skill and subtlety.
Similarly, the line "Their ghosts lie down in the heather" is a powerful image that evokes a sense of both sadness and awe. The heather, with its vibrant purple blooms, is a symbol of life and vitality, yet the ghosts lying in it are anything but alive. This contrast is what makes the poem so memorable—it is a celebration of the beauty of death, rather than a lamentation.
Conclusion
Ron Rash's "The Men Who Raised the Dead" is a poem that will stay with readers long after they have finished it. Its themes of mortality and the afterlife are haunting and thought-provoking, and its use of language and imagery is masterful. Through this poem, Rash has created a world that is both bleak and beautiful, a world where death is a constant presence but where life and vitality still find a way to shine through.
This is a poem that demands to be read and reread, a poem that rewards careful study and contemplation. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity of the human experience, and it is a work that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Men Who Raised The Dead: A Masterpiece of Poetry by Ron Rash
Ron Rash is a renowned American poet, novelist, and short-story writer. His works are known for their vivid imagery, lyrical language, and deep insight into the human condition. One of his most celebrated poems is "The Men Who Raised The Dead," which was first published in 1996 in his collection "Eureka Mill."
This poem is a haunting and powerful meditation on death, grief, and the human desire to transcend mortality. It tells the story of a group of men who work in a funeral home and have the ability to bring the dead back to life, albeit temporarily. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of this strange and eerie phenomenon.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem with its stark and evocative imagery. The men are described as "dark angels" who "move among the dead," their hands "cold as marble." The language is rich with sensory detail, as we can almost feel the chill of their touch and the weight of the bodies they handle. The stanza ends with a powerful image of the men "lifting the dead like sacks of grain," suggesting the impersonal and utilitarian nature of their work.
The second stanza delves deeper into the strange power of these men. They are described as "magicians" who can "summon the dead from their sleep." The language becomes more mystical and otherworldly, as we are told that the men "whisper secrets in their ears" and "breathe life into their lungs." The imagery is both beautiful and eerie, as we can almost hear the whispers and feel the breath on our skin.
The third stanza takes a more philosophical turn, as the speaker reflects on the meaning of life and death. He wonders if the men's power to raise the dead is a blessing or a curse, and whether it is better to live forever or to accept the inevitability of death. The language becomes more abstract and metaphorical, as we are told that "the dead are like seeds" and that "life is a river that flows to the sea." The imagery is both poetic and profound, as we are invited to contemplate the mysteries of existence.
The final stanza brings the poem to a powerful and poignant conclusion. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death, and wonders if the men's power to raise the dead is a form of rebellion against the natural order of things. He concludes with a haunting image of the men "laying the dead back down," their power spent and their work done. The language is spare and elegiac, as we are left with a sense of the fragility and beauty of life.
Overall, "The Men Who Raised The Dead" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores some of the deepest and most profound questions of human existence. Ron Rash's language is rich and evocative, his imagery is vivid and haunting, and his insights into the human condition are both profound and moving. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of life and death, and to help us make sense of the mysteries that surround us.
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