Original Poem：
After the storm, after the rain stopped pounding,
We stood in the doorway watching horses
Walk off lazily across the pasture’s hill.
We stared through the black screen,
Our vision altered by the distance
So I thought I saw a mist
Kicked up around their hooves when they faded
Like cut-out horses
Away from us.
The grass was never more blue in that light, more
Scarlet; beyond the pasture
Trees scraped their voices into the wind, branches
Crisscrossed the sky like barbed wire
But you said they were only branches.
Okay. The storm stopped pounding.
I am trying to say this straight: for once
I was sane enough to pause and breathe
Outside my wild plans and after the hard rain
I turned my back on the old curses. I believed
They swung finally away from me ...
But still the branches are wire
And thunder is the pounding mortar,
Still I close my eyes and see the girl
Running from her village, napalm
Stuck to her dress like jelly,
Her hands reaching for the no one
Who waits in waves of heat before her.
So I can keep on living,
So I can stay here beside you,
I try to imagine she runs down the road and wings
Beat inside her until she rises
Above the stinking jungle and her pain
Eases, and your pain, and mine.
But the lie swings back again.
The lie works only as long as it takes to speak
And the girl runs only as far
As the napalm allows
Until her burning tendons and crackling
Muscles draw her up
into that final position
Burning bodies so perfectly assume. Nothing
Can change that; she is burned behind my eyes
And not your good love and not the rain-swept air
And not the jungle green
Pasture unfolding before us can deny it.
Poem Explanation and Analysis
This poem vividly captures the contrast between peace and trauma, nature and human suffering, and the struggle to reconcile harsh realities with moments of calm. The opening lines describe a serene scene after a storm, with horses lazily walking across a pasture, the grass glowing in brilliant colors, and trees stretching their branches like barbed wire. This peaceful imagery is suddenly interrupted by a haunting vision of a girl burned by napalm, a painful reminder of war and suffering that refuses to fade away.
The poem explores the theme of memory and trauma, showing how even after the storm of violence has passed, the emotional scars remain vivid. The narrator attempts to find solace in the present moment, trying to "pause and breathe" and "turn [their] back on the old curses." Yet, the painful image of the girl burned by napalm persists, symbolizing the inescapability of past horrors.
The contrasting images of nature — the blue and scarlet grass, the barbed-wire-like branches, the peaceful pasture — juxtaposed with the violence and suffering of war, emphasize the tension between beauty and brutality. The poem also touches on the power of imagination and denial as coping mechanisms: the narrator tries to imagine the girl escaping and rising above her pain, but acknowledges this hope as a "lie" that only lasts briefly.
Background and Author Introduction
This poem is reflective of the style and themes often found in post-war poetry, where poets confront the aftermath of conflict and its psychological impact. The imagery of napalm and burned bodies suggests a connection to the Vietnam War, a frequent subject in late 20th-century poetry that grapples with the horrors of warfare and its human cost.
The author, though not named here, likely belongs to a tradition of poets who use vivid, sometimes stark imagery to evoke the emotional weight of trauma. Their work often blends natural imagery with historical and political commentary, inviting readers to reflect on the consequences of violence and the resilience of the human spirit.
Reflections and Insights
Reading this poem encourages deep reflection on the effects of war beyond the battlefield — how memories and images of suffering linger in the minds of survivors and witnesses. It highlights the importance of acknowledging pain rather than suppressing it, while also recognizing the human need to find moments of peace and hope.
The poem also teaches us about the complexity of healing: the narrator’s attempt to "turn [their] back on the old curses" shows a desire for recovery, but the persistence of traumatic images reminds us that healing is neither simple nor immediate.
Educational Value for Children and Students
Students can learn several important lessons from this poem:
- Imagery and Symbolism: The poem is rich in vivid descriptions and symbols (e.g., horses, storm, barbed-wire branches, napalm) that can help students understand how poets convey complex emotions and ideas through figurative language.
- Themes of Trauma and Healing: It introduces young readers to the concept of trauma and the psychological effects of war, encouraging empathy and historical awareness.
- Contrast and Juxtaposition: The poem’s use of contrasting images (peaceful nature vs. violent war) teaches students how contrast can deepen meaning in literature.
- Emotional Expression: The poem models how to express difficult emotions honestly and thoughtfully, an important skill for emotional literacy.
In real-life scenarios, students can apply these lessons by:
- Writing their own poems or stories that explore personal or historical challenges.
- Discussing how literature can help us understand and process difficult events.
- Reflecting on moments of peace in their own lives amidst challenges, fostering resilience.
Key Learning Points and Challenges
- Understanding metaphor and simile (e.g., branches like barbed wire, napalm like jelly).
- Grasping the historical context of war and its representation in poetry.
- Interpreting complex emotional themes such as trauma, denial, and hope.
- Appreciating the structure and flow of free-verse poetry.
- Developing critical thinking by analyzing the poem’s imagery and message.
Reading Comprehension Questions
- What natural elements are described in the poem after the storm?
- How does the poet contrast the peaceful scene with the image of the girl?
- What does the image of the girl burned by napalm symbolize?
- Why does the narrator say the "lie swings back again"?
- How do the branches and thunder function as symbols in the poem?
- What emotions does the poem evoke about the aftermath of war?
- How does the poem illustrate the difficulty of forgetting traumatic events?
- What role does imagination play in the narrator’s attempt to cope with pain?
- How does the poem use color imagery to enhance its message?
- What is the overall message the poet conveys about peace and suffering?
Answer Key
- The poem describes horses walking lazily across a pasture hill, grass that is blue and scarlet, and trees with branches crisscrossing the sky.
- The peaceful scene of nature is sharply contrasted with the haunting image of a girl burned by napalm, representing the intrusion of war’s horrors into calm life.
- The girl symbolizes the lasting trauma and human suffering caused by war, specifically referencing the Vietnam War’s napalm victims.
- The "lie" refers to the temporary hope or denial that the trauma can be escaped or forgotten; it only lasts briefly before reality returns.
- Branches symbolize entrapment or danger (like barbed wire), and thunder symbolizes the ongoing pounding or violence that persists in memory.
- The poem evokes feelings of sadness, helplessness, and the struggle to find peace after violent events.
- It shows that traumatic memories remain vivid and cannot be easily erased, even when one tries to move on.
- Imagination is used as a coping mechanism to envision escape and relief from pain, though it is ultimately acknowledged as insufficient.
- The use of blue and scarlet grass highlights the beauty of nature, which contrasts with the brutal reality of war, deepening the emotional impact.
- The poet conveys that peace is fragile and often overshadowed by suffering, but recognizing and confronting pain is essential for healing.
This poem serves as a powerful educational tool to help students explore deep emotional themes, historical context, and the art of poetic expression.
