Original Poem：
All around the altar, huge lianas
curled, unfurled the dark green
of their leaves to complement the red
of blood spilled there—a kind of Christmas
decoration, overhung with heavy vines
and over them, the stars.
When the angels came, messengers like birds
but with the oiled flesh of men, they hung
over the scene with smoldering swords,
splashing the world when they beat
their rain-soaked wings against the turning sky.
The child was bright in his basket
as a lemon, with a bitter smell from his wet
swaddling clothes. His mother bent
above him, singing a lullaby
in the liquid tongue invented
for the very young—short syllables
like dripping from an eave
mixed with the first big drops of rain
that fell, like tiny silver pears, from
the glistening fronds of palm. The three
who gathered there—old kings uncrowned:
the cockroach, condor, and the leopard, lords
of the cracks below the ground, the mountain
pass and the grass-grown plain—were not
adorned, did not bear gifts, had not
come to adore; they were simply drawn
to gawk at this recurrent, awkward son
whom the wind had said would spell
the end of earth as it had been.
Somewhere north of this familiar scene
the polar caps were melting, the water was
advancing in its slow, relentless
lines, swallowing the old
landmarks, swelling the
seas that pulled
the flowers and the great steel cities down.
The dolphins sport in the rising sea,
anemones wave their many arms like hair
on a drowned gorgon’s head, her features
softened by the sea beyond all recognition.
On the desert’s edge where the oasis dies
in a wash of sand, the sphinx seems to shift
on her haunches of stone, and the rain, as it runs down,
completes the ruin of her face. The Nile
merges with the sea, the waters rise
and drown the noise of earth. At the forest’s
edge, where the child sleeps, the waters gather—
as if a hand were reaching for the curtain
to drop across the glowing, lit tableau.
When the waves closed over, completing the green
sweep of ocean, there was no time for mourning.
No final trump, no thunder to announce
the silent steal of waters; how soundlessly
it all went under: the little family
and the scene so easily mistaken
for an adoration. Above, more clouds poured in
and closed their ranks across the skies;
the angels, who had seemed so solid, turned
quicksilver in the rain.
Now, nothing but the wind
moves on the rain-pocked face
of the swollen waters, though far below
where giant squid lie hidden in shy tangles,
the whales, heavy-bodied as the angels,
their fins like vestiges of wings,
sing some mighty epic of their own—
a great day when the ships would all withdraw,
the harpoons fail of their aim, the land
dissolve into the waters, and they would swim
among the peaks of mountains, like eagles
of the deep, while far below them, the old
nightmares of earth would settle
into silt among the broken cities, the empty
basket of the child would float
abandoned in the seaweed until the work of water
unraveled it in filaments of straw,
till even that straw rotted
in the planetary thaw the whales prayed for,
sending their jets of water skyward
in the clear conviction they’d spill back
to ocean with their will accomplished
in the miracle of rain:
And the earth
was without form and void, and darkness
was upon the face of the deep. And
the Spirit moved upon the face of the waters.
Poem Explanation and Interpretation
This evocative poem paints a vivid and symbolic scene around an altar, blending imagery of nature, spirituality, and environmental change. The altar is surrounded by lianas—thick, twisting vines—that frame a scene marked by spilled blood, evoking a somber, almost sacred atmosphere reminiscent of Christmas decorations. Above this, the stars shine, suggesting a cosmic or divine presence.
The arrival of angels described as "messengers like birds but with the oiled flesh of men" introduces a surreal, almost otherworldly element. These angels hover with "smoldering swords," their wings soaked with rain, symbolizing both protection and destruction. The child in the basket, bright and bitter-smelling, represents innocence and vulnerability, while his mother’s lullaby in a "liquid tongue" evokes tenderness and the nurturing power of language.
The three figures present—the cockroach, condor, and leopard—are portrayed as "old kings uncrowned," rulers of different natural realms but not bearing gifts or worship. Their presence underscores a natural world's indifferent witness to the unfolding drama. The child is described as a "recurrent, awkward son" destined to bring an end to the earth as it has been, hinting at transformation or apocalypse.
The poem then shifts to a broader environmental context: melting polar caps, rising seas, and the drowning of cities and landmarks. Marine life such as dolphins, anemones, and whales become symbols of a changing world, adapting and surviving beneath the waves. The imagery of the sphinx crumbling, the Nile merging with the sea, and the waters rising to drown the noise of the earth all emphasize the unstoppable force of nature reclaiming the planet.
The final stanzas depict the silent, unstoppable flood that swallows the scene, with angels dissolving into rain and whales singing epics of a future where humanity's hold on the earth has ended. The poem closes with a biblical allusion to creation and destruction: "And the earth was without form and void... And the Spirit moved upon the face of the waters," suggesting a cyclical process of death and rebirth.
Background and Author Introduction
This poem reflects contemporary concerns about climate change, environmental degradation, and the spiritual consequences of human actions. The author uses rich symbolism and biblical references to explore themes of destruction and renewal, blending mythology, nature, and prophecy.
The poet is likely someone deeply engaged with ecological issues and spiritual reflection, using poetic language to provoke thought about humanity’s relationship with the earth. The poem’s tone is both mournful and hopeful, recognizing the gravity of environmental crisis while hinting at the possibility of transformation.
Reflections and Insights
Reading this poem invites us to reflect on the fragility of life and the planet. The imagery of rising seas and melting ice caps is a stark reminder of the consequences of global warming. The poem challenges readers to consider the interconnectedness of nature and humanity, the inevitability of change, and the potential for renewal after destruction.
For students and children, this poem offers a powerful introduction to environmental awareness and the use of metaphor in poetry. It encourages empathy for the natural world and an understanding of how art can express complex ideas about life, death, and hope.
Learning Points and Educational Value
- Environmental Awareness: The poem vividly illustrates the impacts of climate change, such as melting polar caps and rising seas, helping students understand these concepts emotionally and visually.
- Symbolism and Imagery: Students can learn how poets use symbols (angels, animals, the child) and vivid imagery to convey deeper meanings.
- Biblical and Mythological References: The poem references biblical creation and mythological figures like the sphinx, offering opportunities to explore these cultural stories.
- Emotional Expression: The poem’s tone and language teach how poetry can express complex feelings like loss, hope, and transformation.
- Critical Thinking: Students can analyze the poem’s themes and relate them to current global issues.
Practical Applications and Life Lessons
- In Education: Teachers can use this poem to discuss climate change, symbolism in literature, and the relationship between humans and nature.
- In Life: The poem encourages mindfulness about environmental responsibility and the importance of nurturing the planet.
- In Writing: Students can practice writing their own poems using imagery and symbolism inspired by nature and current events.
- In Discussions: It can spark conversations about how art influences awareness and action on social and environmental issues.
Comprehension Questions
- What natural elements surround the altar in the poem?
- How are the angels described, and what might they symbolize?
- Who are the three "old kings uncrowned," and what is their significance?
- What environmental changes are described in the poem?
- How does the poem use imagery to show the effects of rising waters?
- What is the significance of the biblical reference at the end of the poem?
- What emotions does the poem evoke about the future of the earth?
- How does the poem blend spiritual and environmental themes?
- What lessons can we learn from this poem about our relationship with nature?
- How might this poem inspire someone to think differently about climate change?
Answers
- Huge lianas with dark green leaves and heavy vines surround the altar.
- The angels are like birds with human flesh, carrying smoldering swords, symbolizing messengers of change or judgment.
- The cockroach, condor, and leopard are natural rulers of different realms, representing the indifferent witnesses of nature.
- The poem describes melting polar caps, rising seas, and the drowning of cities and landmarks.
- Imagery such as dolphins playing in the rising sea and the sphinx’s ruined face shows nature reclaiming the earth.
- The biblical reference suggests a cycle of destruction and creation, implying hope for renewal.
- The poem evokes feelings of loss, inevitability, but also a quiet hope for transformation.
- It connects spiritual messengers and biblical imagery with real-world environmental crises.
- We learn about the fragility of the earth and the need to respect and protect nature.
- It encourages awareness, responsibility, and hope for a better future through understanding and action.
