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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained
A SECOND-HAND ELEGY; FOR DOUGLAS DICKEY, PFC., USMC, by MICHAEL ANANIA Poet Analysis Poet's Biography | |||
The opening line, "How can I be bitter?" sets a reflective and somewhat resigned tone for the poem. This rhetorical question suggests a struggle to find meaning or reconciliation in the face of loss. The mention of "fence-rows rolling with the land" immediately grounds the poem in a specific landscape — the rural expanses of Ohio. This imagery evokes a sense of continuity and the cyclic nature of life, with the "last full measure" implying both the end of a life and the vastness of the space it once occupied. The poem paints a portrait of Douglas Dickey as a person who was integrated with his surroundings and community. Phrases like "assured of providence" and "moving within the accidental turnings of his life" suggest a young man who was at peace with the unpredictability of life, comfortable in his environment, whether it be the "farmyard's familiar disorders" or the city of Dayton. This depiction serves to humanize Dickey, moving beyond the abstraction of a soldier's death to the vivid reality of an individual life. The line "He glanced for an instant at his friends-for only an instant—and then he jumped" is particularly striking, capturing a moment of decision and action. This could be interpreted literally, as a reference to a specific event, or metaphorically, reflecting the suddenness with which life can change or end. The poem's closing imagery, with the young men "riding through Dayton on Saturday night," conveys a sense of youth and the aimlessness that often accompanies it. The mention of "Downtown Downtown" and the "evening blush of neon blooming" paints a vivid picture of their environment, filled with the potential and anticipation of the night. Yet, this is contrasted with the sense of waiting "for something to happen," a line that resonates with the uncertainty and unpredictability of life, particularly for those like Dickey, whose life was cut short. Overall, "A Second-Hand Elegy" is a moving tribute to a fallen soldier. Anania's use of detailed, evocative imagery and his focus on the ordinary moments of Dickey's life work together to create a powerful and intimate remembrance. The poem not only commemorates Dickey's life but also reflects on broader themes of youth, mortality, and the search for meaning in the face of loss. POEM TEXT:
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EPIC STARS by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON NOTES FOR AN ELEGY by WILLIAM MEREDITH THE EROTICS OF HISTORY by EAVAN BOLAND A SONG FOR HEROES by EDWIN MARKHAM AFTER THE BROKEN ARM by RON PADGETT PRELUDE; FOR GEOFFREY GORER by EDITH SITWELL EXAMINATION OF THE HERO IN A TIME OF WAR by WALLACE STEVENS |
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