A dead tree full of live birds by Lionel Abrahams: Poem and Analysis

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General Introduction

In "A dead tree full of live birds" by Lionel Abrahams, the poet explores themes of life and death, the passage of time, the limitations of language, and the significance of literature. Through vivid imagery and introspective musings, Abrahams contemplates the complexities of existence and the human condition.

A dead tree full of live birds  by Lionel Abrahams

A dead tree full of live birds.

Why should I set this down?

On a young man's palm, a spiky clump

that could be a dried dog-turd

seen through my spectacles becomes

a cluster of baby snails, bodies clear as glass

but horned, shelled, complete,

one climbing toward a finger.

Who wants my news of tiny slow new life,

or flickering life amid stiff, brittle twigs?

The impulse to celebrate

is paralysed after a moment's thought.

It is not merely that another youth,

his bunched up fist aloft, declaimed:

'I am Azania...I have no time for liberals...'

while at the same concert for the Art Centre's friends

child-mimes with the vivid grace of mice

enacted angry pupils and their wicked teacher

whom in righteous triumph they lynch with stones and fire.

Not just that responsible thinkers announce

demands of History, revolution, sociological times.

Not alone the dumbing of a girl's desperate death,

its charge of griefs and guilts that my words won't bear,

by which I've lost a line of meaning

and an heir to some of my books, some of my hopes.

Also, in this mortal mood I am appalled

beneath the weight of books. The shelves are laden,

the shelves in my room are laden with books -

and of even the most urgently treasured through decades

of fishmoth and dust, I shall have left many unread.

While beyond, defying the spans of all who care,

are vast collected libraries

expanding to a cosmos of the unexplored.

Not another page, another line,

is needful.

Job and Arjuna already asked my questions.

The 'Ode in Dejection' wrestled with my paralysis.

Over such baffling, tragic tides as ours

'Dover Beach' and 'Lapis Lazuli' have given

ageless answers.

Whatever I may find to say perhaps was said

before I breathed.

But even if my news were news,

useful, bearing on the predicament,

there is enough already greatly given

waiting to be unforgotten.

The smell of mint this morning

invading the bathroom when the window was opened

will aid no struggle, rescue nobody,

save no one from despair,

nor even yield a Zen illumination

no matter what I may connect into the moment.

Yet I am naming it -

as though the shaping lines that hold

my animal or vegetable moment out of time

could grant me, my own reader, life

before and after.

And those immensities, the libraries,

inhabit only us, our intimate space.

Read and unread, my shelves of books

are my urgent life, and I,

their possible reader, am possibly theirs.

It is the `dead' past now that we live out

with no redundancy, no repetition,

live out, becoming its continuing tale.

Defection into silence would annul

the inner galaxy.

Title

The title, "A dead tree full of live birds," sets the stage for the poem's exploration of paradoxes and contrasts. It suggests a juxtaposition of life and death, hinting at the underlying themes of transformation and vitality amidst stagnation.

Themes

1. Paradox of Life and Death: The poem juxtaposes the image of a dead tree with live birds, highlighting the coexistence of life and death. This serves as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of existence, where new life emerges from decay. The poet muses on the significance of this paradox, questioning the value of conveying such observations.

   

    "A dead tree full of live birds."

   

2. Transient Nature of Life: Through the imagery of fleeting life forms like baby snails and flickering life amid brittle twigs, the poem reflects on the impermanence of life and the inevitability of change.

   "Who wants my news of tiny slow new life,

   or flickering life amid stiff, brittle twigs?"

3. Cultural and Societal Struggles: The poem touches on themes of cultural identity and societal upheaval, referencing the young man's declaration of identity as "Azania" and the mime performance depicting rebellion against authority.

    "'I am Azania...I have no time for liberals...'"

   

4. Existential Reflections: The poet contemplates his own mortality and the weight of knowledge left unexplored, symbolized by the shelves of unread books. This theme underscores a sense of existential dread and the limitations of individual understanding.

   "While beyond, defying the spans of all who care,

   are vast collected libraries

   expanding to a cosmos of the unexplored."

5. Significance of Literature: The poem suggests that literature, represented by the shelves of books, holds a profound significance in the poet's life. It serves as a repository of human experiences and wisdom, connecting the poet to a broader intellectual and cultural heritage.

    "Read and unread, my shelves of books

   are my urgent life, and I,

   their possible reader, am possibly theirs."

Literary Devices

1. Metaphor: The dead tree full of live birds serves as a metaphor for the coexistence of life and death.

2. Symbolism: The shelves of unread books symbolize the vastness of human knowledge and the limitations of individual understanding.

3. Allusion: References to Job, Arjuna, and literary works like "Dover Beach" and "Lapis Lazuli" allude to broader philosophical and existential themes.

4. Imagery: Vivid imagery is used throughout the poem to evoke the senses and create a contemplative mood.

5. Irony: The poem employs irony, such as the juxtaposition of the young man's declaration of identity with the mime performance, to highlight the complexities of societal dynamics.

6. Personification: The shelves of books are personified as having a life of their own, suggesting a symbiotic relationship between the poet and literature.

Language and Mood

The language in the poem is contemplative and introspective, reflecting the poet's philosophical musings on life, death, and the human condition. The mood is one of resignation and acceptance, tinged with a sense of awe and wonder at the mysteries of existence.

Context

Written during a time of cultural and political change, the poem reflects the poet's engagement with the socio-political realities of his environment. The references to "Azania" and the mime performance suggest a context of rebellion and struggle against oppression, adding layers of meaning to the poem's themes.

Conclusion

In "A dead tree full of live birds," Lionel Abrahams presents a thought-provoking exploration of life, death, literature, and the human experience. Through rich imagery and introspective musings, the poem invites readers to contemplate the complexities of existence and the enduring significance of literature in navigating life's existential questions.