Comment 4 of 4, added on February 9th, 2009 at 2:00 PM.

well to tell the truth i can't really undestand what the poem is about but
what i do uderstand it is actually a really good poem..i enjoyed it..i am
doin a poem project about it so if there is anyone out there that can help
me grasp the poem's point please message me lyk before tommorrow!!!THANK
YA!!!!=)

amber hasapis from United States

Comment 2 of 4, added on December 28th, 2005 at 6:53 AM.

vincent's mention of the balkans may be a reference to the first world war;
as if began in 1914 in sarajevo, bosnia with the assassination of the
austro-hungarian prince, ferninand. i wonder then: could the reference to
cuba be intended as the spanish-american war of 1898? american
participation in that misadventure was primarily in cuba. both wars were
waged immediately prior to the creation of this poem, which i believe was
written in the 1930s. the next american war was, of course, world war two.

i don't believe that the poem is primarily about war however. a poet will
always object to choas and venality, and it seems to me that this is
vincent's critique of the world-wide malaise that was beginning to envelope
the entire world. it is the pre-condition, the oncoming horror that she is
recoiling from here. and she bravely asserts that she wants no part of the
duplicity that will lead to death.

bob from United States