Review of Tracy K.Smith’s poem ‘An old story’

 

Review of Tracy K.Smith’s poem ‘An old story’

Link for the poem - >https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/147456/an-old-story-5b58c2f3a01c7

I request readers to read the poem first from the link and then only my review. Thanks.

We find a visualization of an awakening transforming a narrow world of distrust, hatred and intolerance into a whole new, that is, harmonious, human and tolerant world. How does that become possible? The awakening of wisdom (something large and old awoke) made it possible. The hatred and distrust were sown in the hearts of people and got deep rooted. After the awakening the air changed (‘a different manner of weather’.) These are visualizations and the dream of the poet.

     So she has brought out a very simple solution, like being wise and living and letting live in harmony with fellow beings and nature too (Then animals long believed gone crept down from trees.) She has depicted a scenario where the words of wisdom in fables are followed and the world becomes eco-friendly in every way both for humans and other beings. Is that all? An awakening followed by whole new world!

     We gather a lot more from what is left unsaid. When such a simple solution is there, why is that always impossible? Why we are waging wars even now, after losing millions of lives and almost everything in two world wars? Why do we remain mad? Why we are obsessed about power, wealth and exclusive status? Why racism and intolerance are quite fine with leaders of the masses? What is limiting an individual or a family, a group or a society or a nation from waking up? Why the whole new world of harmony and human values is always a distant dream?

     Why individuals and institutions as well, falter in bonding and coexisting? Which are the stumbling roadblocks?

     The poem makes us search for answers.