Can you please help me to understand what this poem is about? Maybe some useful weblinks will hhelp me as i cannot find anything.
Thank you :)
History
John Burnside
St Andrews: West Sands; September 2001
Today
as we flew the kites
— the sand spinning off in ribbons along the beach
and that gasoline smell from Leuchars gusting across
the golf links;
the tide far out
and quail-grey in the distance;
people
jogging, or stopping to watch
as the war planes cambered and turned
in the morning light—
today
—with the news in my mind, and the muffled dread
of what may come—
I knelt down in the sand
with Lucas
gathering shells
and pebbles
finding evidence of life in all this
driftwork:
snail shells; shreds of razorfish;
smudges of weed and flesh on tideworn stone.
At times I think what makes us who we are
is neither kinship nor our given states
but something lost between the world we own
and what we dream about behind the names
on day like this
our lines raised in the wind
our bodies fixed and anchored to the shore
and though we are confined by property
what tethers us to gravity and light
has most to do with distance and the shapes
we find in water
reading from the book
of sit and tides
the rose or petrol blue
of jellyfish and sea anemone
combining with a child’s
first nakedness.
Sometimes I am dizzy with the fear
of losing everything—the sea, the sky,
all living creatures, forests, estuaries:
we trade so much to know the virtual
we scarcely register the drift and tug
of other bodies
scarcely apprehend
the moment as it happens: shifts of light
and weather
and the quiet, local forms
of history: the fish lodged in the tide
beyond the sands;
the long insomnia
of ornamental carp in public parks
captive and bright
and hung in their own
slow—burning
transitive gold;
jamjars of spawn
and sticklebacks
or goldfish carried home
from fairgrounds
to the hum of radio
but this is the problem: how to be alive
in all this gazed-upon and cherished world
and do no harm
a toddler on a beach
sifting wood and dried weed from the sand
and puzzled by the pattern on a shell
his parents on the dune slacks with a kite
plugged into the sky
all nerve and line
patient; afraid; but still, through everything
attentive to the irredeemable.
This line seems to sum up the subject of this poem.
"but this is the problem: how to be alive
in all this gazed-upon and cherished world
and do no harm "
I don't understand
How can we be alive in this wonderful world and do no harm?
The poem "History" by John Burnside explores themes of identity, human connection to nature, and the balance between enjoying the world and causing harm. It is a reflective and contemplative poem that takes place on a beach in St. Andrews, Scotland.
To understand the poem, it is helpful to observe the imagery and emotions conveyed by the poet. The speaker describes flying kites on the beach, with sand spinning off in ribbons and the smell of gasoline. In the distance, the tide is out, and people are jogging or watching war planes in the morning light.
Amidst these observations, the speaker kneels down in the sand with Lucas, possibly their child, collecting shells and pebbles as evidence of life. This act of searching for life's traces prompts the speaker to reflect on what defines us as individuals. The poet suggests that it is not only our familial connections or social status but something intangible that lies between what we own and what we dream of.
The poem then shifts to a discussion of the forces that anchor us to life. While we may be confined by our possessions (property), what truly connects us to the world are the elements of nature, such as distance and the shapes found in water. The speaker references reading from the "book of tides" and the vibrant colors of jellyfish and sea anemones. They also mention a child's first nakedness, representing innocence and vulnerability in the face of the world's wonders.
The poet acknowledges moments of fear and the constant possibility of losing everything, including the beauty of nature. The fear arises from our obsession with the virtual world, which often blinds us to the natural world and the interconnectedness of all living beings. The poet mentions the fish lodged in the tide, ornamental carp in parks, and jam jars of spawn and sticklebacks. These examples demonstrate how humans often exploit and commodify nature without fully appreciating its value.
The poem concludes with the speaker pondering how to be alive and enjoy the world without causing harm. The image of a toddler sifting through wood and dried weed on the beach, intrigued by the pattern on a shell, represents innocence and curiosity. The parents fly a kite in the sky, attentive to the irredeemable beauty of the world yet afraid of the potential harm they may cause. The poet raises the question of how to strike a balance between experiencing joy and being mindful of our impact on the environment.
To further explore the themes and interpretations of the poem, it might be helpful to read analysis or commentary by literary scholars or critics. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any specific web links related to this particular poem. However, you can try searching for the title "History" by John Burnside or explore resources on the poet's work in general. Additionally, discussing the poem with others or joining poetry discussion forums can also provide valuable insights and perspectives.