The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner - A poem by Randall Jarrell

Randall Jarrell - The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

Added: on April 2nd, 2007 at 9:52 PM | Viewed: 9738 times | Comments and analysis of The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner by Randall Jarrell Comments (15)

The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner - Comments and Information
Poet: Randall Jarrell Poem: The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner Comment 15 of 15, added on February 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 PM. You are correct- Abortion was not an issue at the time. However, Bill, I do not agree that the description is ALL. Jarrell purposely uses the word State to show how the State, or the government, is the cause of this war. I'm not sure if he is asking for reform or simply airing complaints, but he shows how the State takes us, uses us and discards us when it is done. Nathan from United States Comment 14 of 15, added on April 14th, 2007 at 6:08 PM. This isn't about abortion listen to what Jarrell himslef said. A ball turret was a plexiglass sphere set into the belly of a B-17 or B-24, and inhabited by two .50 caliber machine guns and one man, a short small man. When this gunne tracked whith his machine-guns a fighter attaking his bomber from below, he revolved with the turret; hunched upside-deown in his little sphere, he looked like the foetus in the womb. The fighters which attacked him were armed with cannon firing explosive shells. The hose was a steam hose." No where in there does he mention abortion. (This is from the notes of his book The Complete Poems by Randall Jarrell) Matt from United States Comment 13 of 15, added on April 2nd, 2007 at 9:52 PM. Yes i agree with Darkbeat from the United States on the subject of abortion, "in that time, no such things could be done, and in that itme no such things were said..." Darkbeat, refresh my memory, what was one of Anne Sextons most famous poems again? Assfeltch300 More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner, has received 15 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Randall Jarrell with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Randall Jarrell Poem: The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner Last read: May 14 2008, 10:44PM Viewed 9738 times. Added on April 2nd, 2007 at 9:52 PM.

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