Original Poem：
After the last bulletins the windows darken
And the whole city founders readily and deep,
Sliding on all its pillows
To the thronged Atlantis of personal sleep,
And the wind rises. The wind rises and bowls
The day’s litter of news in the alleys. Trash
Tears itself on the railings,
Soars and falls with a soft crash,
Tumbles and soars again. Unruly flights
Scamper the park, and taking a statue for dead
Strike at the positive eyes,
Batter and flap the stolid head
And scratch the noble name. In empty lots
Our journals spiral in a fierce noyade
Of all we thought to think,
Or caught in corners cramp and wad
And twist our words. And some from gutters flail
Their tatters at the tired patrolman’s feet,
Like all that fisted snow
That cried beside his long retreat
Damn you! damn you! to the emperor’s horse’s heels.
Oh none too soon through the air white and dry
Will the clear announcer’s voice
Beat like a dove, and you and I
From the heart’s anarch and responsible town
Return by subway-mouth to life again,
Bearing the morning papers,
And cross the park where saintlike men,
White and absorbed, with stick and bag remove
The litter of the night, and footsteps rouse
With confident morning sound
The songbirds in the public boughs.
Poem Explanation and Analysis
This evocative poem captures the transition from night to morning in a city, portraying a vivid scene where the hustle and bustle of daily life fades into the quiet of night, only to awaken again with the dawn. The poem opens with the image of the city darkening as the "last bulletins" are announced, signaling the end of the day’s news and activities. The city "founders readily and deep," metaphorically sinking into sleep like the mythical Atlantis, suggesting a deep, peaceful rest.
As the wind rises, it stirs the remnants of the day—news, trash, and discarded thoughts—scattering them through the empty streets and parks. The imagery of trash tearing itself on railings and fluttering around statues symbolizes the disorder and chaos left behind after a busy day. The poem personifies the city’s elements, such as newspapers twisting words and tatters flailing at a patrolman’s feet, evoking a sense of weariness and decay.
However, the poem shifts tone as morning approaches. The "clear announcer’s voice" breaks the silence like a dove, symbolizing peace and renewal. People return to life through the subway, carrying morning papers that bring fresh news and new beginnings. The "saintlike men" cleaning the park represent hope and care, restoring order and awakening the "songbirds" with their confident footsteps.
Creative Background and Author Introduction
This poem reflects the modernist style, focusing on urban life and the interplay between chaos and order, night and day, sleep and wakefulness. It is likely written by a poet deeply attuned to the rhythms of city life and the symbolic power of everyday scenes. The imagery and tone suggest an author who observes the mundane with a sensitive, almost spiritual eye, finding beauty in the overlooked moments of transition.
The poem’s themes resonate with the early 20th-century literary movement that explored the fragmentation of modern life and the search for meaning amid the noise and disorder of urban existence. The author’s use of vivid, kinetic imagery invites readers to reflect on the passage of time and the cycles of renewal.
Reflections and Insights
Reading this poem encourages us to appreciate the quiet moments that follow the chaos of daily life. It reminds us that even in the midst of disorder—symbolized by scattered trash and twisted words—there is a natural rhythm that leads to renewal and hope. The poem’s depiction of the city’s caretakers cleaning up the night’s remnants highlights the importance of responsibility and care in maintaining community and order.
This work inspires mindfulness about the environment around us and the unseen efforts that keep our public spaces clean and welcoming. It also invites reflection on how news and information, like the litter of the day, can be overwhelming yet necessary for our understanding of the world.
Learning Points for Children and Students
- Imagery and Personification: Students can learn how the poet uses descriptive language to bring the city and its elements to life, making abstract ideas like news and sleep tangible.
- Themes of Transition: The poem explores the natural cycle of day turning into night and back again, helping students understand concepts of time and renewal.
- Symbolism: The city’s litter symbolizes the remnants of daily life, while the morning announcer’s voice and the caretakers symbolize hope and responsibility.
- Vocabulary Development: Words like founders, noyade, anarch, and stolid provide opportunities to expand vocabulary and explore meanings in context.
- Urban Life Observation: The poem encourages students to observe their surroundings carefully and appreciate the small details of city life.
Practical Applications and Life Lessons
- Environmental Awareness: The poem’s focus on cleaning up litter can inspire students to take responsibility for their environment.
- Understanding News and Information: It offers a chance to discuss how news affects us and how we process information daily.
- Appreciating Routine and Renewal: Students can learn the value of rest and renewal, understanding that after every busy day, there is a time to pause and recharge.
- Creative Writing: The poem serves as a model for writing descriptive and reflective poetry about everyday scenes.
Reading Comprehension Exercises
- What does the phrase "the whole city founders readily and deep" suggest about the city at night?
- How does the poet describe the wind and its effect on the city?
- What do the "saintlike men" symbolize in the poem?
- Why do you think the poet compares the announcer’s voice to a dove?
- What is the overall mood of the poem from night to morning?
- Identify two examples of personification in the poem.
- What lesson about daily life can we learn from this poem?
Answers
- It suggests that the city is sinking or settling deeply into sleep, implying a peaceful rest.
- The wind is described as rising and scattering the day's litter, stirring trash and newspapers, symbolizing disorder and movement.
- The "saintlike men" symbolize caretakers who restore order and cleanliness to the city after the night.
- The announcer’s voice is compared to a dove to symbolize peace, purity, and the gentle arrival of morning.
- The mood shifts from quiet and chaotic at night to hopeful and peaceful in the morning.
- Examples include trash tearing itself on railings and newspapers twisting words.
- The poem teaches us about the cycles of rest and renewal, and the importance of caring for our environment and community.
