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Comment 20 of 20, added on July 11th, 2009 at 3:57 PM.
Just to state the obvious, poems aren't about literal (to the letter)
representations. They are deliberately ambiguous, and use meter, rhyme,
etc. as a kind of 'head fake' to make you move one direction and surprise
you by winding up somewhere else. Abortion is not 'in there' but is
consistent with what is there - the issues of 'state vs. individual,'
'choice vs. right to life' are illuminated by the words. It is what the
scientists call a 'thought experiment.' Loosen up, y'all!
Holland Whitten from United States
Comment 19 of 20, added on March 13th, 2009 at 8:05 AM.
Just as a side note, during the war, airplanes were often referred to as a
womb. Here's an example from Catch-22 "Doc Daneeka had been told that
people who enjoyed climbing into an airplane were really giving vent to a
subconcious desire to climb back into the womb" Chapter 4 "Doc Daneeka"
Hilary from United States
Comment 18 of 20, added on December 2nd, 2008 at 6:39 PM.
Clearly, none of you guys are helping. Its great that you have your own
opinions and crap but lets get to the bottom of this poem
FIRSt of all, this poem is about life and death and the use of the words
"fetus" and "womb" is to symbolize the ball turret gunner in its protective
state; however in the fetus, he still wasnt born yet.
So, this turret gunner is just sad because he didnt get to live life and
all of a sudden, he died. Clearly this piece is about life and death. DUHHH
Aléin C. from United States
Comment 17 of 20, added on October 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 PM.
Yes, this is about abortion, whether Jarrell intended that or not.
ea
Comment 16 of 20, added on October 22nd, 2008 at 11:45 PM.
Did any of you think of this poem with biographical implications? I
strongly disagree with the notions of it being either a simple poem or one
about abortion.
poetryeater from United States
Comment 15 of 20, 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 20, 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 20, 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
Comment 12 of 20, added on April 2nd, 2007 at 3:04 PM.
Jarrell himself wrote extensively on the meaning of this poem, and nowhere
does it include abortion. This was the war poem of a man who was too
gentle, too tender of heart, to be a warrior. Its greatness lies in the
universal "gut shot" of that final, cold line which gives an unforgettable
image for the banality of war. Over-analysis is a dangerour thing.
Meg Scott from United States
Comment 11 of 20, added on April 18th, 2006 at 1:52 PM.
To characterize this poem as a metaphor for abortion is overreaching. As
an aerial gunner in WW II, I was very impressed by the poem. I still take
it for what I think it was intended to be - an illustration of the horror
and senselessness of WAR. I will admit that it can certainly be regarded
as an anti-abortion message. But, I really don't think that was the poet's
intent.
David Sullivan from United States
This poem has been commented on more than 10 times. Click below to see the other comments.
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Just to state the obvious, poems aren't about literal (to the letter)
representations. They are deliberately ambiguous, and use meter, rhyme,
etc. as a kind of 'head fake' to make you move one direction and surprise
you by winding up somewhere else. Abortion is not 'in there' but is
consistent with what is there - the issues of 'state vs. individual,'
'choice vs. right to life' are illuminated by the words. It is what the
scientists call a 'thought experiment.' Loosen up, y'all!
Holland Whitten from United States