Why is poetry important?
77Where's a poet when ya need one?
and why should we care?
Remember the scene in the movie Contact when the Jodi Foster character is being swirled through space? The craft she is in pauses between wormholes and she stares at the vast and imponderable beauty of the cosmos. "Oh," she says, breathless, speechless (and weightless), "they should have sent a poet. . . ."
There are times when we think we cannot put our feelings and ideas into words. Some of us turn to religion, politics, or philosophy to look for ways in which to express ourselves. Some of us turn to poetry. Somehow, language that poets find in themselves -- that they can share for us -- can captivate, enlighten, and lead us to a better understanding of the world -- or help us articulate our grief, ponder on the meaning of our lives, or simply tap dance a joyful rhythm in our hearts.
Should not have got on this flight tonight
In Yer Face, Innit?
While some poems can move us with their lyrical intensity, others can shock us with political sentiment, outrage, or intention. Here's the most outspoken anti-war poem I've ever seen (not to mention the shortest); and, like all the fiercest poetry of this genre, it was written by someone who was there. It's Randall Jarrell's observations on the Second World War.
The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner
From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
and I hunched in its belly til my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of flight,
I woke to black flack and the nightmare fighters.
When I died, they washed me out of the turret with a hose.
Now, in this short poem, we see a wealth of detail. The title, of course, is crucial and here is the note Jarrell provided for anyone who might not understand what a ball turret gunner is and where he operated: "A ball turret was a plexiglass sphere set into the belly of a B-17 or B-24 bomber and inhabited by two .50 caliber machine-guns and one man, a short, small man. When this gunner tracked with his machine-guns a fighter attacking his bomber from below, he revolved the turret; hunched upside-down in his little sphere, he looked like the foetus in the womb. The fighters which attacked him were armed with canon firing explosive shells. The hose was a steam hose."
The first line can be perplexing for students. "From my mother's sleep I fell into the State" elicits some very tentative interpretations. So I ask why the word State is capitalized (I started doing this after one kid suggested that the line might mean "since my mother was asleep, I entered that state, too -- I fell asleep"). Ascertaining that the word "State" doesn't refer to REM sleep or the State of Nebraska, it becomes clear that the idea of governmental authority is responsible for the speaker's fate, and that his mother might not be asleep, but rather the "sleep" is in fact his months in the womb.
From one womb to another -- he hunches in the "belly" of the plane, like a tiny foetus with wet fur. Once this connection is made, the rest becomes clear for students, and the nightmare quality of the ball-turret gunner's death becomes synonymous with the act of an abortion: "when I died, they washed me out of the turret with a hose."
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (4)
- Funny
- Awesome (1)
- Beautiful (1)
- Interesting (2)
CommentsLoading...
Very good Teresa. I love your explanations of various poems, you help me 'see' some things that I may have missed and give me cause to really think about what the author is really saying to me, for it does become personal to me. I tho't his meaning of his mother at the time was the bomber that had been asleep on the ground awaiting orders to fly and he fell into the bubble (womb) and later his fur on his jacket was wet with sweat. Oh well. thanks dear
Great Hub, Teresa, as always! I have long loved this particular poem and that amazing, frightening last line. The dehumanisation that war requires - in both physical and spiritual terms - is so powerfully captured.Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this short but so very powerful poem.
Love and peace
Tony
Thanks for answsering my request. I had forgot about the turret gunner poem, its terse elegant fist of meaning.
Thanks again.
This Hub gave a lovely awakening start to my day. Poetry is my favourite genre which is why I chose to read this hub before settling down to trade forex for a few minutes (ie: from te sublime to the ridiculous ..)
You have introduced me to a poem and a poet that I had not heard of ... and I think I'm reasonably well read. However, my reading and education were steeped in the Classics, English poetry from the year dot and French poetry.
I shall have to widen my reading - and you have set me on that path with this gem of a poem and your analysis. Thank you.
Reading your analyses of poems always feels like i'm in a literature class, but not in a room but somewhere, under a big tree, or in a clearing. Thanks for sharing :D
Thanks for all your comments, guys. This poem really speaks for itself; this is what war does to our sons and daughters. It's a great poem.
You are amazing Teresa.Do you write for a living as well. You know with me I have such a hard time putting my feelings across verbally. When I write poetry, I can express every little emotion.When I was little there was no-one there to listen to how sad and un-loved I felt inside. I would lock myself in my room and write poetry at night, it was as though the paper was my friend. Writing down my feelings this way has continued ever since. Writing poetry is so theraputic. To me it is my stair-way that connects me to inner self
Gawd, Blondepoet -- your writing is a breath of fresh air: no stuffy mannerisms, just great conversational style that pulls the reader in and keeps us reading. You're right, too -- poetry can be a great way to access our feelings, as it forces us to be honest (to find the right word). Thanks for stopping by and reading.
this is another excellent hub
Why, thank you, Lgali, for your kind comment.
The Death of the Ball Turret GunnerFrom my mother's sleep I fell into the State,and I hunched in its belly til my wet fur froze.Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of flight,I woke to black flack and the nightmare fighters.When I died, they washed me out of the turret with a hose.
Since God our father sent his only son to live and die on earth, humans have struggled with their human nature. Jesus while dieing on the cross spoke out MY GOD MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ME. Jesus was experienceing this struggle as he spoke these words. Jesus was human and could only experience the temptation of good and evil if he had experienced these human traites. This inner struggle with our human nature is the creation of poetry and an outlit to explore our human nature and our spirite.
Thanks for writing these interesting paragraphs, Teresa.
I enjoyed your explication of the poem and you clear-thinking approach to poetry. I'll keep an eye on your writings :)
As a doctor i advise the benefits of diet
but only a chosen few quite often try it
but when the rebellious mind creates a riot
My 'pen on paper therapy' offers solace and quiet
Not just space odyssey-THERESA humanity needs the poet
Enjoyed this hub Teresa. I shall return for more.
Nice post, Teresa. I am impressed!
Excellent. I love to analyze poetry--it is good to find another pilgrim on that journey. It seems not many seek that path. I love to read it for the rhythm and meter and power--and any other reason I can find. Thanks!
more importantly why are your hubs important - because they stimulate me and provoke me into some serious thinking - and I am from Mars - so it's nice to meet an earthling who is a creative anomaly and a free thinker.
Is the rest of the human race like you?
Writing is the one of the best cathartic releases that I know of… It has always been a passion to me. Poetry is something that is very new to me. I do believe that in time I will improve, especially if I were to read or take a class on it. I was curious how long the average person take to work on a poem. Also, I am confused by the classifications of the poems themselves. I have been categorizing mine as narrative or dramatic because they seem to be the most suitable. I would really appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions. Thank you so much! Sincerely, Raina
I think nothing can pack so much meaning into so few words as a well-written poem can (unless maybe it is a kiss). And some poems are so alive, it's as if one never gets to the end of them--the emotion and the meaning seem to just continue, well after the listening has stopped. Nicely written article.
Thanks for your beautiful hub on poetry. There's a bit of poetry in everything we do; poetry is life and life is poetry....
Hawkesdream Level 2 Commenter 3 years ago
Poetry is one of the best portals for description and emotion there is..the words are consise and have no need for epic length unlike a novel. Poetry is an instant route to the soul..Very thought provoking.