Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"AD" is a poem by Kenneth Fearing that was first published in 1948. Fearing was an American poet and novelist who was known for his dark and pessimistic view of the world, which is reflected in much of his work. "AD" is a particularly bleak poem that deals with the aftermath of World War II and the divided state of the world.

Explanation:

The poem is written in the first person and describes the state of the world in the aftermath of the war. The speaker suggests that nobody wants to repeat the mistakes of the past, but that they inevitably do. The poem is a commentary on the divided state of the world, with the free nations portrayed as arrogant and fat, while the unfree nations are described as miserable and hungry.

Fearing uses a series of paradoxes and contradictions to highlight the complexity and confusion of the post-war world. The newspapers, radio, movies, experts, politicians, and people are all described as being full of lies, suggesting a sense of mistrust and cynicism.

Despite the bleakness of the poem, there is a sense of beauty in Fearing's use of language. The poem is filled with vivid and striking imagery that creates a powerful sense of the confusion and complexity of the post-war world.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of six stanzas, each with six lines. The poem has a consistent rhyme scheme of ABABCC.
• Imagery: The poem is full of vivid and striking imagery that creates a powerful sense of the confusion and complexity of the post-war world. For example, the free nations are described as "arrogant and fat," while the unfree nations are described as "miserable and hungry."
• Paradox: The poem uses a series of paradoxes and contradictions to highlight the complexity and confusion of the post-war world. For example, the free nations are described as having "forgotten how to think," while the unfree nations are described as being sick with disease.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is bleak and pessimistic, reflecting the confusion and complexity of the post-war world.

Conclusion:

"AD" is a powerful and evocative poem that reflects the bleakness and confusion of the post-war world. Fearing's use of vivid imagery, paradox, and contradiction creates a sense of complexity and confusion, with the world portrayed as being full of lies and mistrust. Despite the bleakness of the poem, there is a sense of beauty in Fearing's use of language, which creates a powerful sense of the world's complexity and contradictions.

Poem Snippet:

"And the clocks ticked away the seconds and the hours,

And the years went by like shadows on the wall,

And the world was a little worse

And a little better

And a little madder

And a little saner

Than it was the day before."

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