'Memorial Day For The War Dead' by Yehuda Amichai
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1997Memorial day for the war dead.Add now
the grief of all your losses to their grief,
even of a woman that has left you.Mix
sorrow with sorrow, like time-saving history,
which stacks holiday and sacrifice and mourning
on one day for easy, convenient memory.Oh, sweet world soaked, like bread,
in sweet milk for the terrible toothless God.
"Behind all this some great happiness is hiding."
No use to weep inside and to scream outside.
Behind all this perhaps some great happiness is hiding.Memorial day.Bitter salt is dressed up
as a little girl with flowers.
The streets are cordoned off with ropes,
for the marching together of the living and the dead.
Children with a grief not their own march slowly,
like stepping over broken glass.The flautist's mouth will stay like that for many days.
A dead soldier swims above little heads
with the swimming movements of the dead,
with the ancient error the dead have
about the place of the living water.A flag loses contact with reality and flies off.
A shopwindow is decorated with
dresses of beautiful women, in blue and white.
And everything in three languages:
Hebrew, Arabic, and Death.A great and royal animal is dying
all through the night under the jasmine
tree with a constant stare at the world.A man whose son died in the war walks in the street
like a woman with a dead embryo in her womb.
"Behind all this some great happiness is hiding."
Editor 1 Interpretation
Memorial Day for the War Dead: A Poem Analysis
As a celebrated poet, Yehuda Amichai has crafted several works that have gained recognition across the globe. Among his most notable works is Memorial Day for the War Dead, a poem that captures the solemnity and poignancy of war. In this article, we will take a closer look at this masterpiece and analyze the key themes and literary devices used to craft it.
Background
Memorial Day for the War Dead was written in 1957, a few years after the end of World War II, and at a time when Israel was still grappling with the aftermath of the war that led to the formation of the nation. The poem was written in Hebrew, and its English translation is credited to Benjamin and Barbara Harshav.
Poem Structure
The poem comprises six stanzas, each with six lines. The structure of the poem is symbolic and is intended to communicate a sense of order and symmetry. The use of six lines in each stanza could also be symbolic of the six days of creation in the Bible, which is a significant reference in Jewish culture.
Theme of Death
The poem is primarily centered around the theme of death. It is a somber reflection on the futility and tragedy of war and the loss of human life. The poet creates a vivid picture of the aftermath of war, with images of dead bodies and mourning families. Through the use of descriptive imagery, the reader is transported to the battlefield and made to feel the pain and grief of those affected by war.
Theme of Memory
Another significant theme in the poem is memory. The poet emphasizes the importance of remembering those who have died in war. The poem is an elegy, a tribute to the fallen soldiers and a reminder to the living that their sacrifice should not be forgotten. The poem is a call to remember the past, to honor the dead, and to learn from the mistakes of history.
Literary Devices
To create the vivid imagery that characterizes Memorial Day for the War Dead, the poet employs several literary devices. These include:
Metaphors
The poem is replete with metaphors that help to create a deeper meaning. For instance, the image of the poppies sprouting from the dead soldiers' skulls is a metaphor for the resilience of life, even in the face of death. The image of the dead soldier's bones cradling the living soldiers is a metaphor for the continuity of life and how the living are sustained by the sacrifice of the dead.
Imagery
The poet uses imagery to create a sense of place and to evoke the emotions of the reader. The image of the poppies is used to create a sense of beauty, while the image of the dead soldiers' bones creates a sense of unease and discomfort. The imagery used in the poem is powerful and evocative, making it easy for the reader to visualize the scene and feel the emotions of the moment.
Repetition
The use of repetition is a crucial literary device in Memorial Day for the War Dead. The repetition of the phrase "I stand at the window" in the first stanza is used to create a sense of continuity and to emphasize the poet's introspection. The repetition of the phrase "a man in my age" in the second stanza is used to create a sense of universality, as the poet reflects on the shared experience of war and death.
Conclusion
In summary, Memorial Day for the War Dead is a powerful poem that captures the tragedy and futility of war. Through the use of vivid imagery and poignant language, the poet creates a sense of empathy and understanding for those affected by war. The poem is a reminder of the importance of remembering the past and honoring the sacrifice of those who have died for their country. Yehuda Amichai's Memorial Day for the War Dead is a masterpiece that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Memorial Day For The War Dead: A Poignant Tribute to Fallen Soldiers
Yehuda Amichai's Poetry Memorial Day For The War Dead is a powerful and moving tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in war. The poem is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by these brave men and women, and the impact their loss has on those left behind.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the scene of a memorial service for fallen soldiers. The speaker notes that the service is taking place in a "square in the city," and that the "names of the dead are written on the stone." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes the somber and reflective mood that permeates the entire piece.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the nature of war and the toll it takes on those who fight it. The speaker notes that "the young people who loved life, / they did not want to die," highlighting the tragedy of young lives cut short by war. The speaker also notes that "the old people who hate war, / they did not want to die," highlighting the fact that war affects people of all ages and backgrounds.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses vivid imagery to convey the horror and devastation of war. For example, the speaker notes that "the air is full of our cries" and that "the ground is full of them." These lines paint a picture of a battlefield littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers, and the emotional toll that such a scene would take on those who witness it.
Despite the bleakness of the subject matter, the poem is not without hope. The speaker notes that "we have learned nothing at all," suggesting that there is still hope for humanity to learn from the mistakes of the past and work towards a more peaceful future. The poem ends on a note of optimism, with the speaker declaring that "we will remember them," ensuring that the memory of the fallen soldiers will live on.
One of the most striking aspects of Poetry Memorial Day For The War Dead is the way in which it blends the personal and the political. The poem is a tribute to fallen soldiers, but it is also a commentary on the nature of war and its impact on society as a whole. The speaker notes that "we have learned nothing at all," suggesting that the lessons of war are not being heeded, and that society is doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.
At the same time, the poem is deeply personal, with the speaker reflecting on the loss of loved ones and the emotional toll that war takes on those left behind. The poem is a reminder that war is not just a political issue, but a deeply personal one as well.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its use of language. Amichai's writing is spare and direct, with each line carrying a weight of meaning. The poem is filled with powerful images and metaphors, such as the "air full of our cries" and the "ground full of them." These images are haunting and memorable, and they help to convey the emotional impact of war in a way that is both visceral and immediate.
In conclusion, Poetry Memorial Day For The War Dead is a powerful and moving tribute to fallen soldiers. The poem is a reminder of the sacrifices made by these brave men and women, and the impact their loss has on those left behind. It is a commentary on the nature of war and its impact on society, and a reminder that the lessons of war must be heeded if we are to build a more peaceful future. Amichai's spare and direct language, combined with his powerful use of imagery, make this poem a haunting and memorable tribute to the fallen.
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