'The Ballad Of The Children Of The Czar' by Delmore Schwartz
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1The children of the Czar
Played with a bouncing ballIn the May morning, in the Czar's garden,
Tossing it back and forth.It fell among the flowerbeds
Or fled to the north gate.A daylight moon hung up
In the Western sky, bald white.Like Papa's face, said Sister,
Hurling the white ball forth.2While I ate a baked potato
Six thousand miles apart,In Brooklyn, in 1916,
Aged two, irrational.When Franklin D. Roosevelt
Was an Arrow Collar ad.O Nicholas! Alas! Alas!
My grandfather coughed in your army,Hid in a wine-stinking barrel,
For three days in BucharestThen left for America
To become a king himself.3I am my father's father,
You are your children's guilt.In history's pity and terror
The child is Aeneas again;Troy is in the nursery,
The rocking horse is on fire.Child labor! The child must carry
His fathers on his back.But seeing that so much is past
And that history has no ruthFor the individual,
Who drinks tea, who catches cold,Let anger be general:
I hate an abstract thing.4Brother and sister bounced
The bounding, unbroken ball,The shattering sun fell down
Like swords upon their play,Moving eastward among the stars
Toward February and October.But the Maywind brushed their cheeks
Like a mother watching sleep,And if for a moment they fight
Over the bouncing ballAnd sister pinches brother
And brother kicks her shins,Well! The heart of man in known:
It is a cactus bloom.5The ground on which the ball bounces
Is another bouncing ball.The wheeling, whirling world
Makes no will glad.Spinning in its spotlight darkness,
It is too big for their hands.A pitiless, purposeless Thing,
Arbitrary, and unspent,Made for no play, for no children,
But chasing only itself.The innocent are overtaken,
They are not innocent.They are their father's fathers,
The past is inevitable.6Now, in another October
Of this tragic star,I see my second year,
I eat my baked potato.It is my buttered world,
But, poked by my unlearned hand,It falls from the highchair down
And I begin to howlAnd I see the ball roll under
The iron gate which is locked.Sister is screaming, brother is howling,
The ball has evaded their will.Even a bouncing ball
Is uncontrollable,And is under the garden wall.
I am overtaken by terrorThinking of my father's fathers,
And of my own will.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ballad Of The Children Of The Czar: A Critical Analysis
Delmore Schwartz, an American poet and short story writer, is known for his profound and insightful works. One of his most striking pieces is "The Ballad of the Children of the Czar," a poem that delves into the tragic fate of the Romanov family, the last tsarist rulers of Russia. The poem is a remarkable blend of history, metaphor, and emotion, making it an enduring masterpiece of modern poetry. In this essay, I will offer a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of this powerful work, exploring its themes, structure, and language.
Historical Context
Before diving into the poem itself, it is essential to understand the historical context that inspired it. In 1917, the Bolshevik revolution overthrew the Romanov dynasty, and the tsar, Nicholas II, along with his wife and children, were imprisoned. In 1918, the family was brutally murdered by the Bolsheviks in a basement in Yekaterinburg. This event has been the subject of numerous artistic works, from films to novels to poetry.
Schwartz's poem is one such work, written in the aftermath of World War II, when the horrors of the Holocaust were still fresh in people's minds. The poem's historical context, therefore, is not limited to the Romanovs but extends to the broader theme of senseless violence and the loss of innocence.
Structure and Form
"The Ballad of the Children of the Czar" is written in ballad form, a traditional poetic form that typically narrates a story in a straightforward, narrative style. Schwartz's poem, however, goes beyond the traditional ballad form, with complex metaphors and shifts in tone that add depth and complexity to the narrative. The poem is divided into five stanzas, each with six lines. The poem's structure is significant as it creates a sense of symmetry and balance, which contrasts with the violence and chaos of its subject matter.
Themes
The poem's primary theme is the loss of innocence and the senseless violence that destroys it. The children of the Czar, who are the poem's central characters, are portrayed as innocent victims of a brutal world. The repetition of the phrase "the children of the Czar" underscores their youth and naivete, and their brutal murder highlights the senselessness of their deaths.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the nature of power and its corrupting influence. The Romanovs were the ultimate symbols of power and privilege, yet their wealth and status could not protect them from the violence that ultimately consumed them. The poem suggests that power, when held too tightly, can lead to a tragic and violent end.
Imagery and Language
One of the most striking features of the poem is its vivid and evocative imagery. The use of metaphors and similes creates a haunting and unsettling atmosphere, which captures the horror of the Romanovs' fate. For example, the phrase "the palace towers are dark" creates a sense of foreboding and doom, while the description of the "bloodied snow" conjures up images of violence and brutality.
The language of the poem is also significant, with repeated phrases and refrains adding to its emotional impact. The repetition of the phrase "the children of the Czar" reinforces their innocence and youth, while the refrain "now they lie sleeping" brings home the finality of their deaths.
Interpretation
On a deeper level, the poem can be seen as a meditation on the nature of humanity and the human condition. The Romanov children, who are presented as innocent victims, represent all children who suffer and die needlessly in wars and other acts of violence. Their story is a reminder of the fragility of life and the senselessness of violence.
At a time when the world was still recovering from the horrors of World War II, Schwartz's poem was a powerful statement against violence and a call for compassion and understanding. The poem's message is as relevant today as it was when it was written, serving as a reminder of the tragedies that can result from hatred and violence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Ballad of the Children of the Czar" is a powerful and moving work of poetry that explores themes of innocence, violence, and power. Through its vivid imagery and language, the poem captures the horror of the Romanovs' fate and serves as a reminder of the fragility of life. The poem's message is as relevant today as it was when it was written, making it a timeless masterpiece of modern poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ballad of the Children of the Czar is a classic poem written by Delmore Schwartz that tells the story of the tragic end of the Romanov dynasty in Russia. The poem is a powerful and moving tribute to the children of the last Czar of Russia, Nicholas II, and their untimely deaths at the hands of the Bolsheviks. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning and significance.
The poem is written in the form of a ballad, which is a traditional form of poetry that tells a story in a simple and direct manner. The ballad is often used to tell stories of love, tragedy, and heroism, and in this case, it is used to tell the story of the Romanov children. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme.
The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the main characters of the poem. The children of the Czar are described as "four little girls in a row" and "one little boy all alone." The use of the word "little" emphasizes their youth and innocence, and the fact that they are "in a row" suggests that they are vulnerable and exposed. The image of the "one little boy all alone" is particularly poignant, as it highlights the isolation and loneliness that he must have felt as the only male heir to the throne.
The second stanza introduces the conflict of the poem. The Bolsheviks are described as "the Red Menace" who "came with guns and swords." The use of the word "menace" suggests that they are a threat to the children, and the fact that they are armed with "guns and swords" emphasizes their violent intentions. The image of the Bolsheviks as a faceless, menacing force is a powerful one, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
The third stanza describes the children's reaction to the Bolsheviks. They are described as "frightened" and "crying," which emphasizes their vulnerability and fear. The fact that they are "crying for their mother" is particularly poignant, as it highlights the fact that they are just children who are in need of comfort and protection. The use of the word "mother" is also significant, as it suggests that the children are aware of their royal status and the importance of their family.
The fourth stanza describes the fate of the children. They are "shot and stabbed and bayoneted," which emphasizes the brutality of their deaths. The use of the word "bayoneted" is particularly gruesome, as it suggests that the Bolsheviks were not content with just shooting the children, but had to inflict further violence upon them. The fact that the children are described as "little lambs" is also significant, as it emphasizes their innocence and the fact that they were completely defenseless.
The fifth stanza describes the aftermath of the children's deaths. The image of the "empty palace" is a powerful one, as it suggests that the royal family has been completely wiped out. The fact that the palace is "silent as a tomb" emphasizes the finality of their deaths and the fact that there is no hope for their return. The use of the word "tomb" is also significant, as it suggests that the children have been martyred and that their deaths will be remembered for generations to come.
The final stanza is a tribute to the children and their legacy. The fact that they are described as "little saints" emphasizes their innocence and purity, and the fact that they are "gone to heaven" suggests that they have been rewarded for their suffering. The use of the word "heaven" is also significant, as it suggests that the children have been elevated to a higher status and that their deaths were not in vain.
In conclusion, The Ballad of the Children of the Czar is a powerful and moving tribute to the tragic end of the Romanov dynasty in Russia. The poem uses simple language and imagery to tell the story of the children's deaths, and it emphasizes their innocence and vulnerability. The use of the ballad form adds to the poem's emotional impact, and the final stanza is a poignant tribute to the children's legacy. Overall, the poem is a powerful reminder of the human cost of political violence and the importance of remembering those who have suffered.
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