Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Nineteen Thirty-Eight" by John Berryman is a haunting evocation of the year leading up to the outbreak of World War II, capturing the ominous buildup of military aggression, the spread of terror, and the profound human costs of political and ideological conflicts on a global scale. Through vivid imagery and potent symbolism, Berryman paints a picture of a world on the brink of catastrophe, where the machinery of war threatens the very fabric of civil society and the sanctity of life itself.

The poem opens with the image of "great planes swarm," likening them to "Germs in the healthy body of the air," a metaphor that conveys the invasive and destructive nature of aerial warfare as it breaches the peace and security of nations. This imagery sets the tone for the poem, emphasizing the suddenness and ubiquity of the threat that hangs over the global community.

Berryman then shifts focus to Asia, referencing the opening of "famous tombs" and the resurgence of ancestral spirits into the "carnage of the Rising Sun," an allusion to the imperial ambitions of Japan and the devastating effects of its military campaigns. This "horrible light" casts a shadow over the innocence and continuity of life, introducing a new language of violence and devastation into the "torn streets" of invaded cities.

The poem also touches on the internal conflicts within Europe, with references to the "Third Reich" and the perception of those who died early in its reign as "the lucky ones," a chilling comment on the horrors that would unfold under Nazi rule. Berryman captures the pervasive sense of terror that accumulated, leading to alliances and military actions that further destabilized the world, such as the division and consumption of territories likened to a "southern ally for the Eagle's feast."

The Spanish Civil War serves as a microcosm of the larger global conflicts, with "strangers overhead" and international brigades contributing to the violence, illustrating how the war blurred the lines between civil and international warfare, with foreign powers intervening for their own agendas.

Survivors of these conflicts, "lean and daring and black men," embody the resistance and resilience of those who refuse to be subdued by oppression and colonization. Despite the destruction of their villages and the desolation of their lands, they persist, holding onto "wild legends of deliverance," a testament to the enduring hope for liberation and justice.

Berryman concludes the poem with a bleak winter landscape, "fatal wings" overshadowing the dying year, symbolizing the impending war and its inescapable consequences. The final lines, speaking of blood on thresholds and bodies in swollen rivers, evoke a sense of collective guilt and the moral indictment of those responsible for the suffering and chaos unleashed upon the world.

"Nineteen Thirty-Eight" is a powerful indictment of the forces of war and imperialism, capturing the sense of impending doom that characterized the pre-war period. Berryman masterfully uses the poem to reflect on the human capacity for destruction, the fragility of civilization, and the enduring spirit of those who resist oppression, making it a poignant and timeless reflection on one of the darkest periods in human history.

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