Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

FIRST BOOK OF ODES: 20. VESTIGES - 2., by BASIL BUNTING Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"First Book of Odes: 20. Vestiges - 1 & 2," by Basil Bunting, offers a sweeping historical and cultural panorama, intertwining the stark realities of life in the past with the grand narratives of empire and conquest. Through vivid imagery and poignant detail, Bunting explores themes of legacy, memory, and the inexorable passage of time, painting a picture of civilizations and their transient glories.

In "Vestiges - 1," Bunting sets the scene with a landscape marked by the remnants of past lives and battles. The silent salt grass, the stinking lake, and the scabby children evoke a sense of decline, of a people surviving amidst the ruins of their history. The inability to read the tombs or remember who conquered whom speaks to the loss of cultural memory and identity. The reference to Temuchin (Genghis Khan) and the dispersion of his horde after his death highlights the ephemerality of power and the fading of names and deeds into obscurity.

This section also reflects on the simplicity and directness of life in those times—there were no temples built by these people, their cities are likened to "woven hair" that has mildewed and frayed, indicating both the fragility and the organic nature of their constructs. The "Records of Islam and Chin" and the tales of "battles, swift riders, ambush" suggest a rich tapestry of history now lost or fragmented, reduced to mere vestiges of its former self. The mention of "Wild geese of Yen, peacocks of the Windy Shore" and "Tall Chutsai" evokes the beauty and the cultural achievements of these civilizations, contrasted against the backdrop of their decline.

"Vestiges - 2" shifts focus to a dialogue between Jengiz Khan and the Taoist sage Chang Chun, highlighting the contrast between the might of empire and the value of wisdom and learning. Jengiz Khan's admission of feeling "lean" despite his conquests and his acknowledgment of the importance of "poets and sages" to maintain order in his empire reveal a profound understanding of the limitations of military power alone. His lamentation of not having enough wise men for his cabinet underscores the scarcity of true wisdom and the challenges of governance.

The response of Chang Chun, emphasizing his own frailty and perceived lack of wisdom, and his immediate willingness to set out despite these inadequacies, speaks to the humility and duty of the sage. The practical details of arranging an escort and a good cart, and the mention of sending the girls separately if necessary, ground the narrative in the realities of travel and service in the ancient world.

Together, these sections of the poem weave a complex narrative of rise and fall, of the pursuit of power and the search for wisdom amidst the ruins of past glories. Bunting's work serves as a meditation on the impermanence of human endeavors and the enduring quest for understanding and meaning. The poem captures the tension between the tangible achievements of empires and the intangible legacy of knowledge and wisdom, exploring how both are subject to the ravages of time yet leave lasting impressions on the fabric of history. Through "First Book of Odes: 20. Vestiges," Bunting invites reflection on the nature of legacy, the value of wisdom, and the fleeting nature of power and civilization.

POEM TEXT:

Jengiz to Chang Chun: China is fat, but I am lean

eating soldier's food, lacking learning.

In seven years

I brought most of the world under one law.

The Lords of Cathay hesitate and fall.

Amidst these disorders

I distrust my talents.

To cross a river boats and rudders,

to keep the empire in order poets and sages,

but I have not found nine for a cabinet, not three.

I have fasted and washed. Come.