Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Cenotaph; September 1919" is a poem by Charlotte Mew, a British poet who lived from 1869 to 1928. The poem was first published in 1921, two years after the end of World War I, in Mew's collection of poetry, "The Heart of Hidden Things."

The poem is about the unveiling of the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, on November 11, 1920, to commemorate the end of World War I. The Cenotaph, which means "empty tomb" in Greek, is a monument to the war dead, and Mew's poem reflects on the meaning of this new memorial in the aftermath of the war.

The main theme of the poem is the grief and loss caused by the war, and the attempt to come to terms with this loss through the creation of the Cenotaph. Mew examines the idea of the "empty tomb," and the sense of absence and emptiness that this monument represents. She also explores the themes of memory, mourning, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of such a catastrophic event as World War I.

The poem is written in free verse, with irregular line lengths and no consistent rhyme scheme. The language is stark and simple, with short, declarative sentences that emphasize the gravity of the subject matter. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza describing the Cenotaph itself, and the second stanza reflecting on the impact of the war on those who survived.

The first stanza of the poem describes the Cenotaph as a "monstrous abstraction" that stands "shrouded and draped" in the center of the city. Mew emphasizes the sense of emptiness and absence that the monument represents, as it is "nothing but a shape / Of stone or metal" that stands in for the absent dead. She also notes the contrast between the "bright" and "noisy" city that surrounds the Cenotaph and the "stillness" and "quietness" of the monument itself.

In the second stanza, Mew reflects on the aftermath of the war, and the sense of loss and grief that still permeates the world. She notes that "the dead are always with us," even if they are not physically present, and that their absence is felt all the more keenly because of the scale of the war and the number of lives lost. She also explores the idea of memory, and the importance of remembering those who have been lost in order to give meaning to their sacrifice.

Overall, "Cenotaph; September 1919" is a powerful exploration of grief, loss, and the attempt to find meaning in the aftermath of World War I. Mew's use of stark, simple language and her emphasis on the emptiness and absence represented by the Cenotaph reflect the scale of the tragedy of the war, while her reflection on memory and the importance of remembering the dead offers a glimmer of hope for those who survived. The poem is a poignant tribute to the fallen, and a reminder of the enduring impact of war on those who are left behind.

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