On a Line from Valery Poem Summary line by line

On a Line from Valery Poem Summary line by line-Where is the theme of the poem?,Which poem tells the story?,What is a tone in a poem?,What is mood in a poem?,What is the moral of why poem?,In Carolyn Kizer eerie poem On a Line from Valery, a sorrow that echoes the effects of human intervention on the natural world is revealed. The great poet of the 20th century, Auden, crafts a story that is timeless, touching on themes of regret, environmental damage, and the long-lasting effects of our decisions as a society. The lines depict a burning tree, a withering sky, and a poisoned atmosphere, all of which stand in for the irreparable harm caused by human activity. Come explore the connections between nature, regret, and the pressing need for introspection in the face of ecological calamity as we peel back the layers of Auden’s reflections on the human condition.On a Line from Valery Poem Summary line by line

On a Line from Valery Summary

1. “The whole green sky is dying. The last tree flares”
   • The poem opens with a stark declaration about the imminent demise of the natural world. The final tree stands ablaze in a burst of otherworldly rose color.
2. “With a great burst of supernatural rose”
   • The vivid description emphasizes the intensity and perhaps unnatural quality of the color, indicating a catastrophic event.
3. “Under a canopy of poisonous airs.”
   • The cause of the environmental decline is suggested to be a polluted atmosphere, represented by a poisonous canopy.
4. “Could we imagine our return to prayers”
   • The speaker contemplates the idea of turning to prayer as a solution or repentance for the damage inflicted on the environment.
5. “To end in time before time’s final throes,”
   • The hope is for a resolution through prayer before the ultimate demise, suggesting a desire for redemption.
6. “The green sky dying as the last tree flares?”
   • The repetition reinforces the theme of environmental decline, questioning if the natural world can be saved as the last tree burns.
7. “But we were young in judgement, old in years”
   • The speaker reflects on past decisions, acknowledging that despite age, they were still inexperienced in making wise choices.
8. “Who could make peace; but it was war we chose,”
   • Despite the ability to promote peace, humanity has chosen a path of conflict and destruction.
9. “To spread its canopy of poisoning airs.”
   • The destructive consequences of choosing war are described as spreading a poisonous atmosphere.
10. “Not all our children’s pleas and women’s fears”
    • Despite the pleas of children and the fears of women, society failed to change its destructive course.
11. “Could steer us from this hell. And now God knows”
    • Despite the efforts of the vulnerable, society continued down a destructive path, and now it faces divine judgment.
12. “His whole green sky is dying as it flares.”
    • The divine perspective is invoked, stating that even the heavens are affected by the human-induced catastrophe.
13. “Our crops of wheat have turned to fields of tares.”
    • Agricultural abundance has turned into fields of worthless or harmful plants, symbolizing the loss of productivity and fertility.
14. “This dreadful century staggers to its close”
    • The poem places the environmental degradation in the context of the 20th century, describing it as dreadful and nearing its end.
15. “And the sky dies for us, its poisoned heirs.”
    • The consequence of human actions is the death of the sky, which becomes a legacy of poison for future generations.
16. “All rain was dust. Its granules were our tears.”
    • Rain, essential for life, has become polluted and sorrowful, representing the collective tears of humanity.
17. “Throats burst as universal winter rose”
    • The physical suffering of humanity is depicted, with throats metaphorically bursting, perhaps due to pollution or a metaphorical “winter” of despair.
18. “To kill the whole green sky, the last tree bare”
    • The destructive forces, depicted as a universal winter, lead to the death of the entire natural world, leaving the last tree stripped of life beneath the poisoned air.

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On a Line from Valery Poem

Tout le ciel vert se meurt
Le dernier arbre brûle.

The whole green sky is dying.  The last tree flares

With a great burst of supernatural rose

Under a canopy of poisonous airs.

Could we imagine our return to prayers

To end in time before time’s final throes,

The green sky dying as the last tree flares?On a Line from Valery Poem Summary line by line

But we were young in judgement, old in years

Who could make peace; but it was war we chose,

To spread its canopy of poisoning airs.

Not all our children’s pleas and women’s fears

Could steer us from this hell.  And now God knows

His whole green sky is dying as it flares.

Our crops of wheat have turned to fields of tares.

This dreadful century staggers to its close

And the sky dies for us, its poisoned heirs.

All rain was dust.  Its granules were our tears.

Throats burst as universal winter rose

To kill the whole green sky, the last tree bare

Beneath its canopy of poisoned air.

Conclusion

In the haunting verses of Carolyn Kizer On a Line from Valery,” a poignant narrative unfolds, lamenting the irreversible consequences of human actions on the environment. The poet paints a vivid picture of a dying world, with the last tree ablaze under a canopy of poisonous air. The plea for a return to prayer as a remedy and the acknowledgment of misguided choices reveal a profound sense of regret.

The century described as dreadful is reaching its close, leaving behind a legacy of desolation. As the green sky dies and the last tree stands bare, Auden’s poem serves as a stark reminder of the ecological devastation wrought by human hands.Where is the theme of the poem?,Which poem tells the story?,What is a tone in a poem?,What is mood in a poem?,What is the moral of why poem?,

FAQ.

1. How does the poem explore the theme of regret or hindsight in human decision-making?

   The poem delves into the speaker’s reflections on the consequences of past choices, expressing regret for opting for war instead of peace.

2. What is the role of prayer in the poem, and does it offer a solution to the environmental crisis presented?

   The poem raises the idea of prayer as a potential solution, questioning whether it could bring about redemption and change the course of environmental devastation.

3. What is the significance of the reference to the 20th century as “this dreadful century”?

   The description of the 20th century as dreadful implies a period marked by significant and regrettable events, possibly including wars and environmental degradation.

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4. How does the poet employ religious and divine imagery to convey the severity of the environmental crisis?

   The mention of God’s knowledge and judgment, along with references to prayer, adds a religious dimension to the poem, highlighting the severity of human impact on the natural world.