can someone please help me analyze this poem
thank you
Passover: The Injections
Clouds pass over, endless,
black fruit dripping
sap from the branches
of lightning.
We lie down in the field,
thousands of us,
never mind the rain.
Soldiers come toward us,
groups of three or four.
The wind opens their long coats.
Underneath, their uniforms are black.
They bend over to the babies.
The babies cry,
for a little while.
"We are living in Biblical times,"
a woman says.
Gruesome!
First of all, find all of the images or references in there that you connect to any part of the Bible, especially connected to the Hebrews escape from Egypt with Moses and Aaron as their leaders.
Let us know what you decide.
You might start with Exodus 13 (the first passover) and keep reading:
http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults2.php?passage1=Exodus13&book_id=2&version1=51&tp=40&c=13
This was written by William Heyen (1940-)
It is from a book of poems called Poems of the Holocaust. So you have a double inference.
i can't figure out the first stanza
In the reference of war... what could the lightning be? What could the black drops be?
i am sorry i am really bad at analyzing poetry could the lighting be the electric fence i don't know
What about gunfire, what about death?
Those are as unexpected and as uncontrolable as lightning. No one knows when or where it will strike.
what does the black fruit represent
To analyze a poem, you can follow a systematic approach that involves examining its themes, literary devices, and overall structure. Here's how you can do that for this poem:
1. Read the poem several times: Start by reading the poem multiple times to gain familiarity with its content and to notice any recurring words or phrases.
2. Identify the themes: Determine the central themes of the poem. In this case, some possible themes could be war, suffering, resilience, and religious imagery.
3. Examine the title: Consider the title, "Passover: The Injections." The word "Passover" references a Jewish holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, while "injections" suggests a medical procedure. This juxtaposition may indicate a merging of historical and contemporary elements.
4. Consider the imagery: Look for vivid and striking images in the poem. For example, "black fruit dripping/sap from the branches/of lightning" creates a vivid image of a storm. The image of soldiers with black uniforms juxtaposed against the Biblical reference also stands out.
5. Analyze the structure: Consider the poem's structure, including its line breaks, stanzas, and meter (if applicable). In this case, the poem consists of a single stanza with varying line lengths. The irregular structure might represent the chaos and unpredictability of the depicted events.
6. Identify literary devices: Look for literary devices such as metaphor, simile, personification, or symbolism. For instance, the line "The wind opens their long coats" uses personification, attributing human-like qualities to the wind.
7. Consider the tone and mood: Pay attention to the poet's attitude or tone and the mood that the poem evokes. Does the poem feel somber, reflective, or urgent? In this poem, the tone is matter-of-fact, demonstrating the resilience and acceptance of the people involved.
8. Connect to historical context: Consider the historical and cultural context in which the poem was written. This poem seems to allude to a period of conflict and upheaval, which may reflect the poet's personal experiences or broader historical events.
By following these steps, you can begin to unravel the deeper meanings and interpretations within the poem, ensuring a thorough analysis.