What is this poem about?
John Burnside - 'History'
It states it based in St Andrews; West Sands September 2001. Is this significant?
Please help me to understand this poem
Thankyou
Sept 11, 2001 is the date of the (9/11) attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. That is what he is talking about.
I have not read the poem and am not finding a copy on line (it is under copyright). Generally, Burnside's work emphasizes the spontaneity of life, it's unplanned nature, dependent on nature itself and relationships with other people rather than a set of rules from outside our own experience. This quotation from a critic may help you:
"Burnside's intensely lyric poems occupy a borderland between two worlds. On the one hand the earthly experience of our bodies is rendered in richly sensuous language that can sometimes tip into the visceral: "stripped flesh/and the cords/of muscle/ribbed and charred/like something barbecued". ('De Humani Corporis Fabrica'). His detailed knowledge of ecology and love of the natural world stitches his poems into the fabric of specific landscapes and locales. On the other hand his poems continually break free of the bodily and the merely personal: as he himself puts it "the lyrical impulse begins at the point of self-forgetting." (Strong Words, Bloodaxe, 2000). It is this blurred territory between the self and the other that Burnside has made particularly his own. His poems are fraught with glimpsed presences; ghosts, angels, ancestors, our own unlived lives."
To analyze the poem "History" by John Burnside, we need to explore the poem's content, themes, and context. The poem begins by describing the natural beauty of St Andrews, particularly West Sands, during September 2001. This date is significant as it coincides with the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11th.
The speaker reflects on history and how it shapes our lives. Burnside uses vivid imagery to describe the beach and the changing tides, symbolizing the passage of time and the cyclical nature of history. He also mentions the wind, which may represent the unpredictable and chaotic nature of historical events.
The speaker delves into the history of the area, referencing flint arrowheads, stone circles, and ancient bones. These references connect the present and the past, highlighting the continuity of history. The poem explores the idea that the present is influenced and shaped by the events of the past.
There is also a sense of mortality and the fleeting nature of life, as Burnside mentions graves and tombstones. The poem suggests that despite the passing of time and the inevitability of death, certain aspects of history and the human experience persist.
To further understand and interpret the poem, it could be helpful to analyze the specific language and metaphors used, as well as the emotional tone conveyed. Consider the significance of the historical references, such as flint arrowheads and stone circles, and how they contribute to the overall message of the poem.
Remember, poetry is often open to interpretation, so it is important to engage with the text and reflect upon your own personal understanding and feelings.