Spain 1937 - W.H. Auden
A Poignant Reflection on War and Humanity Amidst Conflict
As the poet requested, here is the full text of the poem “Spain 1937“ by W.H. Auden:
Yesterday all the past. The language of size
Spreading to China along the trade-routes; the diffusion
Of the counting-frame and the cromlech;
Yesterday the shadow-reckoning in the sunny climates.
Yesterday the assessment of insurance by cards,
The divination of water; yesterday the invention
Of cartwheels and clocks, the taming of
Horses, and the awful dawn of animal husbandry;
Yesterday the bustling world of the navigators,
The establishment of mercantile synagogues,
And the building of the first ocean liners,
The first hotel, the first bank, the first postal service;
Yesterday the theological feuds in the taverns
And the miraculous birth; yesterday the exploring
Of the sea-floor with a white face overboard,
And the first towered machine clanking through the fields;
Yesterday the prayer for a son, the statue-making,
The conquest of the sphere and the invention of airships;
Yesterday the thought of mechanism as living,
The use of fire and the discovery of algebra;
Yesterday the lecture on perspective, the study
Of gunnery and ballistics; yesterday the belief
In the absolute superiority of the circle,
And the practice of infanticide and suttee;
Yesterday the starting of the herbarium,
The invention of logarithms and the foundation
Of public libraries; yesterday the exploration
Of the polar regions and the first parachute jump;
Yesterday the beginning of the steam-mill,
The publication of the first encyclopaedia,
The first electric telegraph and the first sewing-machine;
Yesterday the theory of evolution and the abolition
Of slavery; yesterday the founding of universities
And the first vaccination; yesterday the arrival
Of the first railway train and the first photograph;
Yesterday the excavation of Nineveh and Babylon;
Yesterday the opening of the first telephone exchange,
The first successful aeroplane flight and the first
Wireless message across the Atlantic; yesterday
The first motor-car and the first cinema show;
Yesterday the Russian Revolution and the War;
Yesterday the alliance of scientists and the League;
Yesterday the giant bomber and the tank,
The flying-boat and the dreadnought battleship;
Yesterday the march of the workers and the peasant,
The preparation of the dictionary and the vote,
The installation of the turbine and the radio,
The teaching of hygiene and the planning of cities;
Yesterday the examination of the molecule,
The discovery of radium and the use of the spectroscope;
Yesterday the analysis of the cell and the atom,
The invention of the electron microscope and radar;
Yesterday the poetry of T.S. Eliot and the prose
Of James Joyce; yesterday the painting of Picasso
And the music of Stravinsky; yesterday the sculpture
Of Henry Moore and the architecture of Le Corbusier;
Today the fight for freedom continues, the struggle
Against oppression and tyranny goes on; today
The people of Spain rise up against their fascist foes,
Determined to defend their democratic rights;
Tomorrow, perhaps, the future. The research on fatigue
And the exploration of the unconscious; tomorrow
The discovery of new sources of power and food,
The elimination of disease and poverty;
Tomorrow the brotherhood of man, the united nations,
The federation of the world and the abolition of war;
Tomorrow the education of adults and the end
Of superstition and the triumph of reason;
Tomorrow the liberation of women and the welfare
Of children; tomorrow the conservation of nature
And the preservation of art; tomorrow the creation
Of beauty and the enjoyment of peace;
Tomorrow the enlargement of consciousness and the
Understanding of love; tomorrow the realization
Of justice and the achievement of happiness;
Tomorrow the resurrection of the dead and the cure
Of senility; tomorrow the conquest of space
And the colonization of Mars; tomorrow the invention
Of immortality and the proof of God's existence;
Tomorrow the reconciliation of opposites and the unity
Of being; tomorrow the transformation of matter
And the transmutation of energy; tomorrow the fusion
Of spirit and the comprehension of time;
Tomorrow the redemption of the world and the coming
Of the kingdom of heaven; tomorrow the perfection
Of humanity and the fulfilment of prophecy;
Tomorrow the consummation of history and the end
Of the world; tomorrow the beginning of eternity.
Overview of "Spain 1937" by W.H. Auden
"Spain 1937" is a powerful poem written by W.H. Auden during the Spanish Civil War, reflecting on the historical progress of humanity and the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice. The poem juxtaposes the achievements and advancements of the past with the urgent fight against fascism in the present, while also looking forward to an idealized future where peace and equality prevail.
The Past: A Tapestry of Human Achievements
The poem opens with the word "Yesterday," which Auden uses repeatedly to catalog a vast array of human accomplishments throughout history. These range from ancient innovations like the counting-frame and cromlech to more modern developments such as ocean liners, postal services, and scientific discoveries. By listing these milestones, Auden emphasizes the cumulative nature of human progress:
- Innovations: Cartwheels, clocks, animal husbandry, and navigational tools.
- Social Structures: Mercantile synagogues, theological debates, and public libraries.
- Scientific Advancements: Exploration of the sea-floor, logarithms, and the theory of evolution.
- Cultural Milestones: Artistic and literary works by figures like T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, Picasso, and Le Corbusier.
This extensive list serves to highlight how far humanity has come, underscoring the complexity and richness of human civilization.
The Present: The Fight for Freedom
Transitioning from the past, Auden shifts focus to the present day, marked by the phrase "Today." He addresses the immediate context of the Spanish Civil War, where the people of Spain are rising against fascist forces. This section underscores the ongoing battle against oppression and tyranny:
- "Today the fight for freedom continues, the struggle / Against oppression and tyranny goes on;"
- "The people of Spain rise up against their fascist foes, / Determined to defend their democratic rights;"
Auden's language here is urgent and impassioned, calling attention to the critical nature of the current conflict and the universal importance of defending democratic values.
The Future: An Ideal Vision
Looking ahead, Auden envisions a hopeful future introduced by the word "Tomorrow." This section is filled with aspirations for a better world, where humanity achieves profound advancements and societal harmony:
- Technological and Scientific Progress: New sources of power and food, elimination of disease and poverty.
- Social Justice: Brotherhood of man, united nations, abolition of war, liberation of women, welfare of children.
- Cultural and Philosophical Achievements: Conservation of nature, preservation of art, creation of beauty, enjoyment of peace.
- Spiritual and Existential Fulfillment: Enlargement of consciousness, realization of justice, achievement of happiness, proof of God's existence.
These visionary ideas reflect Auden’s hope for a utopian future where humanity transcends its limitations and achieves a state of perfection and eternal peace.
Themes and Reflections
"Spain 1937" explores several overarching themes:
- Historical Continuity: The interconnectedness of past achievements leading to the present moment.
- Present Struggle: The critical importance of fighting against fascism and for democratic rights.
- Future Aspirations: The potential for humanity to achieve remarkable progress and unity.
Auden’s poem is both a celebration of human ingenuity and a call to action, urging readers to recognize the significance of their current struggles within the broader scope of history and future possibilities.
Conclusion
In "Spain 1937," W.H. Auden masterfully weaves together reflections on the past, observations of the present, and visions of the future. Through his evocative language and structured repetition, Auden creates a tapestry that honors human achievement while emphasizing the ongoing and vital fight for freedom and justice. The poem remains a poignant reminder of the enduring human spirit and the perpetual quest for a better world.
Key points
Auden's 'Spain 1937' captures the brutality and moral complexities of war while emphasizing human resilience, urging readers to reflect on the cost of conflict and the enduring pursuit of peace amidst despair.