“Displaced Person’s SongIf you see a train this evening,Far away, against the sky,Lie down in your woolen blanket,Sleep and let the train go by.Trains have called us, every midnight,From a thousand miles away,Trains that pass through empty cities,Trains that have no place to stay.No one drives the locomotive,No one tends the staring light,Trains have never needed riders,Trains belong to bitter night.Railway stations stand deserted,Rights-of-way lie clear and cold,What we left them, trains inherit,Trains go on, and we grow old.Let them cry like cheated lovers,Let their cries find only wind,Trains are meant for night and ruin,And we are meant for song and sin.”
Analysis of "Displaced Person's Song" by Thomas Pynchon
In this poem, Thomas Pynchon paints a vivid picture of the loneliness and displacement experienced by those who have been uprooted from their homes and forced to wander aimlessly. The imagery of trains passing through empty cities and deserted railway stations evokes a sense of abandonment and isolation. The repeated references to trains as belonging to the night and embodying ruin suggest a bleak and hopeless existence for the displaced individuals.
The contrast between the desolate world of the trains and the desire for connection and belonging expressed by the speaker through the mention of song and sin highlights the longing for human connection and purpose. The poem ultimately conveys a deep sense of longing and resignation, as the displaced individuals are left to drift through a world that offers them no solace or sense of belonging.
Modern Relevance of "Displaced Person’s Song"
In this poignant poem by Thomas Pynchon, the theme of displacement and a sense of longing for belonging is explored through the imagery of trains. The feeling of being adrift and disconnected from a sense of home or roots is a sentiment that still resonates with many individuals today, whether they are refugees, immigrants, or simply struggling with feelings of alienation in a fast-paced, globalized world. This poem serves as a reminder of the universal human desire for connection and a place to call home.
Analysis of "Displaced Person’s Song"
Thomas Pynchon's poem, "Displaced Person’s Song," uses the imagery of trains to convey a sense of displacement and alienation. The poet paints a picture of desolation and abandonment, emphasizing the idea that trains are symbols of a world that has moved on without those left behind. The repeated references to trains calling out in the night evoke a haunting sense of longing and loss. Through this poem, Pynchon explores themes of loneliness, nostalgia, and the passage of time.
Reflection Questions
As you reflect on the poem "Displaced Person's Song" by Thomas Pynchon, consider the following questions:
- How does the imagery of trains evoke a sense of displacement and longing in the poem?
- In what ways does the speaker convey a sense of detachment and isolation through the description of abandoned railway stations and empty cities?
- What do you think the contrast between the trains "meant for night and ruin" and the people "meant for song and sin" suggests about the human experience of longing and belonging?
- How does the repetition of the word "trains" throughout the poem reinforce the theme of displacement and loneliness?
- What emotions or memories does this poem evoke for you personally? How does it connect to your own experiences of longing or feeling out of place?
Similar quotes
“It was like the classic scene in the movies where one lover is on the train and one is on the platform and the train starts to pull away, and the lover on the platform begins to trot along and then jog and then sprint and then gives up altogether as the train speeds irrevocably off. Except in this case I was all the parts: I was the lover on the platform, I was the lover on the train. And I was also the train.”
“My voice sounds like I have a cold, all the mucus from my crying lodged in my nose. A train, Mama said. Camille came, and the wind sounded like trains.”
“We're being trained through our incarnations--trained to seek love, trained to seek light, trained to see the grace in suffering.”
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“Please don’t think of me that way. Let me be the guy at the train station.”“You’re not the guy at the train station. You’re my Blake.”