Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Dust and Glory" by William Everson is a powerful poem that meditates on the themes of history, violence, and the cyclical nature of human conflict through the lens of a singular, evocative event. The poem begins with a peasant, working in Lorraine, who discovers an ancient sword buried in the ground. This sword, "Hiltless with rust and the blade a long double curve," is neither Roman nor Teuton but originates from the "sleeping East," hinting at the vast, interconnected web of history and the migrations and invasions that have shaped it. The peasant, upon finding the sword, inspects it briefly before discarding it, an act that symbolizes the disregard for the depth and complexities of history by those living in the present.

The poem then shifts its focus to Attila the Hun, the fearsome leader whose hordes swept from Asia across to the West, leaving devastation in their wake. Everson paints a vivid picture of Attila's conquests, "roaring down Rome and the north-born Goths," capturing the brutal efficiency and fleeting nature of his power. Despite the fear and destruction Attila wrought, the poem reflects on how, in the grand scheme of history, his reign was just a momentary blip, an "instant" of roaring that shook the world but ultimately faded into the annals of time.

Everson contrasts Attila's violent legacy with the ongoing cycle of violence and rebuilding that has characterized human civilization since his time. Cities have been sacked and rebuilt, valleys plundered and repopulated, with each generation experiencing its own form of "sharp violence" and brief moments of peace. Yet, despite the passage of time and the layers of history that cover the deeds of the past, traces remain—be it through a "curious sword" unearthed in the fields, genetic legacies seen in "a baby born with oval eyes," or ancient stories preserved by old men.

"Dust and Glory" reflects on the impermanence of power and the persistence of the past, even as it is buried or forgotten. The poem suggests that history is a continuum, with the past and present intertwined, and that violence and glory are but two sides of the same coin, endlessly turning in the soil of human endeavor. Through Everson's evocative imagery and contemplative tone, "Dust and Glory" invites readers to ponder the depth of our historical roots and the transient nature of our greatest triumphs and most devastating defeats.

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