What Were They Like
Denise Levertov * Track #7 On Ba-Ke-Nal’
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What Were They Like by Denise Levertov
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Denise LevertovAbout
In this unusually structured poem, Denise Levertov makes the reader think about the effect war has on the population and culture of a country, with specific reference to the Vietnam War (1955 – 75). Although she is critical of the way the nation and its culture was disregarded, this is done subtly t...
What Were They Like Lyrics
1) Did the people of Viet Nam
Use lanterns of stone?
2) Did they hold ceremonies
To reverence the opening of buds?
3) Were they inclined to quiet laughter?
4) Did they use bone and ivory
Jade and silver, for ornament?
5) Had they an epic poem?
6) Did they distinguish between speech and singing?
1) Sir, their light hearts turned to stone
It is not remembered whether in gardens
Stone gardens illumined pleasant ways
2) Perhaps they gathered once to delight in blossom
But after their children were killed
There were no more buds
3) Sir, laughter is bitter to the burned mouth
4) A dream ago, perhaps. Ornament is for joy
All the bones were charred
5) It is not remembered. Remember
Most were peasants; their life
Was in rice and bamboo
When peaceful clouds were reflected in the paddies
And the water buffalo stepped surely along terraces
Maybe fathers told their sons old tales
When bombs smashed those mirrors
There was time only to scream
6) There is an echo yet
Of their speech which was like a song
It was reported their singing resembled
The flight of moths in moonlight
Who can say? It is silent now
What Were They Like Q&A
Who wrote What Were They Like's ?
What Were They Like was written by Denise Levertov.