Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"18 West 11th Street (House Exploded by 'Weathermen'.. 1970)" is a poem by American poet James Ingram Merrill. It was first published in 1972 and reflects on the themes of violence, terrorism, and the impact of political upheaval on the lives of ordinary people.

Explanation:

The poem describes the aftermath of a terrorist attack in which a house was destroyed by the radical left-wing group known as the Weathermen. The poem is marked by a sense of horror and outrage, as the speaker reflects on the violence and destruction wrought by political extremism.

The speaker describes the scene of destruction, and the sense of disorientation and confusion that it engenders in the people who witness it. He reflects on the ways in which political violence can have a profound impact on the lives of ordinary people, and the sense of loss and despair that it can engender.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: "18 West 11th Street" is a poem written in free verse, with no strict rhyme or meter.
• Imagery: The poem is filled with vivid and evocative imagery, such as the image of the "blackened stairwell" and the "charred brownstone."
• Metaphor: The poem uses the metaphor of the explosion to reflect on the themes of violence, terrorism, and the impact of political upheaval on the lives of ordinary people, underscoring the sense of horror and outrage that characterizes the speaker's reflections on the violence and destruction wrought by political extremism.
• Theme: The poem explores the themes of violence, terrorism, and the impact of political upheaval on the lives of ordinary people, underscoring the sense of loss and despair that it can engender.

Conclusion:

"18 West 11th Street" is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that reflects on the complexities of political violence and the impact that it can have on the lives of ordinary people. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and theme, the poem captures the sense of horror and outrage that characterizes the speaker's reflections on the violence and destruction wrought by political extremism. The poem stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of free verse and the themes of violence, terrorism, and the impact of political upheaval on the lives of ordinary people.

Poem Snippet:

"But the front door

Is boarded up with plywood, as if a plague

Lurked there, or the stench of some inhuman

Atrocity that had taken place behind."

NOTE:  The Weathermen, a radical leftist group formed from the Students for a Democratic Society, bombed the Village building in New York City in 1970 as part of their campaign of protest against the Vietnam War and perceived injustice in the United States. The building housed many businesses, including a restaurant and the offices of the Army Reserve and National Guard. Three people were killed in the explosion, and several others were injured. The Weathermen justified the attack as a means of striking a blow against the military-industrial complex and as an act of revolutionary violence aimed at overthrowing the capitalist system. The bombing was widely condemned by political leaders and the public, and it marked a turning point in the decline of the Weathermen's influence and popularity among both leftist and mainstream activists.

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