Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Book of Days 21" by Martha Collins is a powerful, concise poem that juxtaposes the natural imagery of sycamores leaning towards a river with the harrowing aftermath of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. Through stark, vivid imagery, Collins explores themes of destruction, survival, and the indelible marks of violence on both the human psyche and the natural world.

The poem opens with a serene, almost idyllic image of sycamores by a river, creating a sense of peace and natural harmony. This tranquility is abruptly contrasted with the horrific scene in Hiroshima, where the atomic bomb's devastation is encapsulated in haunting imagery: "the skull's mouth / opened for water; meat / walked on bones." The visceral description of the survivors, reduced to "meat walked on bones," evokes the profound dehumanization and suffering caused by the bombing, highlighting the stark reality of human vulnerability in the face of such overwhelming force.

The reference to "Not even the eye, / the eye that strips / the bark from the bone-white trees," introduces a metaphorical observer, possibly representing collective human consciousness or the inescapable gaze of history. This eye, which uncovers the underlying "bone-white" reality beneath the sycamore's bark, symbolizes the unyielding scrutiny that reveals the deep scars left by violence, both on the land and in the minds and bodies of survivors. The imagery of the bone-white trees, echoing the earlier description of skeletal survivors, further blurs the line between the human and natural realms, suggesting a shared vulnerability to destruction.

The poem's final line, "is clean," starkly negates any notion of purity or innocence, implying that the trauma of such violence leaves an indelible stain that cannot be washed away. This assertion challenges the reader to confront the lasting impacts of warfare and violence, not only on the immediate victims but also on the broader tapestry of life and the environment.

"Book of Days 21" is a meditation on the aftermath of violence, reflecting on the profound ways in which acts of destruction resonate through time and space. Collins employs sharp, minimalistic imagery to convey the depth of trauma inflicted on Hiroshima, using the natural world as both a witness and a participant in the narrative of human suffering. Through its stark juxtapositions and haunting imagery, the poem invites readers to reflect on the enduring scars of violence and the complex relationship between human actions and the natural world.

POEM TEXT: https://capa.conncoll.edu/collins.space.htm#DAYS

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