“Since we had always sky about,when we had eagles they flew outleaving no shadow bigger then wrens'to trouble our most aeromantic hens.Too busy bridging loneliness to be alonewe hacked in ties what Emily etched in bone.We French, we English, never lost our civil war,Endure it still, a bloodless civil bore;No wounded lying about, no Whitman wanted.It's only by our lack of ghosts we're haunted.”
-
Working on it...
-
Working on it...
Quote Analysis
In this quote from Earle Birney's poem, the speaker reflects on the experience of living in a place where there is always sky above, filled with eagles that eventually depart without leaving a lasting impact. The speaker describes how despite the lack of physical scars from a civil war, there is still a lingering sense of haunting and loneliness. The mention of Emily etching in bone contrasts with the speaker's own experience of hacking in ties, suggesting a sense of disconnect and longing for connection. The imagery of eagles leaving no shadow bigger than wrens and the reference to Whitman wanting wounded individuals creates a haunting atmosphere that lingers throughout the poem.
Modern Relevance of "Bushed"
The poem "Bushed" by Earle Birney reflects on the theme of isolation and a lack of connection with the past. In today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, many people can relate to feeling disconnected from their roots and history. The mention of the civil war and the absence of ghosts haunting the speaker highlights a sense of emptiness and longing for a deeper connection to the past. This sentiment can resonate with individuals who struggle to find a sense of belonging or continuity in the midst of contemporary complexities.
Similar quotes
“All America lies at the end of the wilderness road, and our past is not a dead past, but still lives in us. Our forefathers had civilization inside themselves, the wild outside. We live in the civilization they created, but within us the wilderness still lingers. What they dreamed, we live, and what they lived, we dream.”
“Our civilization rests on a faulty premise, that the world is physical and mechanical, energy and matter only. We do not pay for it in our bridges, we pay for it in the quality of our lives. " ”
“Love at first sight is not complicated. In our dreams we build a woman, we give her life from our own life, and then we have to wait. Through trial and error we try to find that nameless ghost that’s haunting our most lonely of nights. And I felt as if I had found what I was looking for. Finally, my ghost had a name and a face.”
“No, we aren't civilized, even in our business suits and high heels. People are as mean as ever, and as predictable. Underneath it all, we are not so different from what lurks in the wild, perhaps we're worse.”
“Our triumph over sorrow is not that we can avoid it but that we can endure it. And therein lies our hope; that in spirit we might become bigger than the problems we face.”