What Ill say is weve been busy. The poem begins with the lovers drinking champagne, and ends with the burning nun running "silently toward her god," both of which use the same language of opening. Crossing the border into America when he was merely two years old, Vuongs upbringing was, for the most part, an American experience. He compares it to a type of anaesthesia that takes over everything and no one wakes up from. OCEAN VUONG, Author, "Night Sky With Exit Wounds": Sometimes, people say, well, how does it feel to be the first poet? He knows that eventually, the darkness outside will give way to light but for now, he gets to look around him and see the world for what it really is Unresting death. Slowly light strengthens, and the room takes shape. flickering in black mud. Vuongs obsession with the body takes root in his beliefs and training as a Buddhist. Night Sky with Exit Wounds study guide contains a biography of Ocean Vuong, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Please check your inbox to confirm. In a 2013 interview with Edward J. Rathke, Vuong discussed the relationship between form and content in his work, noting that Besides being a vehicle Itll be like anaesthesia from which hell never wake up. fill the square like stones fallen from the sky. Webwith gunfire. And this is how information was passed. Sign up to unveil the best kept secrets in poetry. More books than SparkNotes. You can see immediately what an incredible backdrop this is over which to project a poem, but its worth mentioning as well that its richness, its uniqueness, poses a challenge too, in that what follows must be truly sensational to rise above it to be every bit as memorable as this moment in history. Consisting of 3,372 words, the first section of the collection is made up of 12 poems. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. Need a transcript of this episode? South Vietnam, 29 April 1975: Armed Forces Radio played IrvingBerlins White Christmasas a code to begin Operation Frequent Wind,theultimate evacuation of American civilians and Vietnamese refugees by helicopter during the fall of Saigon. And the poem "The Gift" is very interesting because she only knew A, B, C, three letters. asthe traffic guard unstraps his holster. Im dreaming to hear sleigh bells in the snow, In the square below: a nun, on fire, runs silently toward her god. Because the butterflys yellow wing. "Aubade by Philip Larkin". Accessed 1 March 2023. This poem does a beautiful job of putting down humankinds most depressing thoughts into moving, thoughtful verse. In Vietnam, there's much dependency on the body. Im dreamingofa curtain of snow, Snow scraping against the window. This, however, is not all: Night Sky with Exit Wounds is not just focused on honestly depicting the experience of being gay, but being gay in America. This complex sense of erasure experienced by the speaker sheds a great deal of light on why he finds salvation in the body, which unifies the various identities that lead to his societal rejection. Milkflower petals on the street like pieces of a girl's dress. I come from a long line of poets. Moreover, the repetition of certain lyricstogether with certain images (i.e., "milkflower petals" and the dog) emphasizes not only the piling up of wreckage in the city but also echoes on a content level the examination and re-examination of the fall of Saigon from different angles and perspectives. For Vuong, the body serves as an ultimate vessel carrying all degrees of emotions across the spectrum, the ultimate canvas for Vuong to practice his meditation the way he paints his poetic masterpieces. In the first stanza of Aubade, the speaker begins by describing waking up at four to soundless dark. Only in "Untitled," where 9/11 commingles with the loss of a friend of the speaker's, do we really get any sympathy on the speaker's part for America; however, even this sympathy is conditioned by the fact that it is for the experience of loss or sorrow, rather than anything intrinsically linked to America. He fills a teacup with It is a small unfocused blur that one cant quite see but also cant ignore. May And share it. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia with Alzheimer's Research Charity. So I gathered fistfuls. In a sense, all Vietnamese farmers were poets, because while they were working, they sang, and the songs helped the rhythm of the harvesting and the seeding of the fields. The first of these is unstressed, and the second is stressed. Web Aubade by Philip Larkin is a beautifully dark poem about the inescapable nature of death and humankinds moments of despair. More books than SparkNotes. Aubade with Burning City, the Fall of Saigon as told from his grandmothers memory is set against the passionate yet imaginary love-making scene of a couple. And it's interesting how poems are carried from one culture to another. There will be no smells, thoughts, or anything to think or smell with. In Night Sky with Exit Wounds, the idea of the American Dream is thus presented as just thata dream with little substance. An aubade is a poem that is written to accompany the break of day, most commonly in the context of two lovers parting. An aubade is typically a poem that celebrates the arrival of dawn. When my grandmother would tell me about the collapse of Saigon, she would say, "Saigon, this sounds very strange, but I remember it fell during the snow song." The poem follows a sexual encounter Both sides are important. Regarding the relationship between his father and mother, the speaker primarily focuses on how loving and physically passionate they were with one another, despite his knowledge that their relationship eventually fell apart and became more and more abusive. A palm-sized photo of his father soaking beside his left ear. WebAubade with Burning City South Vietnam , April 29, #975: Armed Forces Radio played Irving Berlin's" White Christmas " as a code to begin Operation Frequent Wind, the ultimate evacuation of American civilians and Vietnamese refugees by helicopter during the fall of Saigon. I work all day, and get half-drunk at night. Born in Saigon, poet and editor Ocean Vuong was raised in Hartford, Connecticut, and earned a BA at Brooklyn College (CUNY). The fact that these identical words bookend the poem both carries the finality of a religious incantation and gives the impression of a chance occurrence or coincidence, a complex feeling that is pulled off here to exquisite effect. Clearly, all human beings and all other living things will have to face it. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Dont worry, he says, as the first shell flashes their faces, my brothers have won the war and tomorrow The lights go out. That a bomb crater can bear witness to the kind of generative act represented by sex also introduces an element of cyclicality to the poem, adding to the idea that even a doomed or hurt body can experience pleasure and produce new things. In Buddhism, the body is considered a sacred vessel for the soul. Correspondence concerning this project should be addressed to: letm@lafayette.edu, The Religious Fusion of Buddhism and Christianity, Interlacing the Family and the Individual Self, The Hypothetical Father Figure: Mythology Makes Up for What Reality Lacks. And, of course, the oral tradition doesn't offer a page. Their shadows, two wicks. The song moving through the city like a widow. On most occasions that Vuong writes city, he is referring to Saigon, his birth place. Words used in close vicinity with "body." Indeed, the body is also a motif that echoes through Whitmans poetry. Web[POEM] Aubade with Burning City - Ocean Vuong South Vietnam, April 29, 1975: Armed Forces Radio played Irving Berlins White Christmas as a code to begin Operation Frequent Wind, the ultimate evacuation of American civilians and Vietnamese refugees by helicopter during the fall of Saigon. The poem "Aubade with Burning City" is the fourth poem in Ocean Vuong's Night Sky with Exit Wounds, located in the first section, and it is one of the most well-known poems from the collection. In Aubade with Burning City, the Fall of Saigon as told from his grandmothers memory is set against the passionate yet imaginary love-making scene of a couple. Apart from the Buddhist identity that Vuong inherits from his Vietnamese background, his autographical self was enriched by his Christian experience in America. May your days be merry andbright. Registered No. Along with the disappearance of the father figure in this section, Vuong relinquishes the voice of mythology in his writing. Moreover, the invocation of the aubade in this poem is unusual insofar as there is no clear first-person speaker ("I") in the text, but rather a third-person narrative style. The city in Vuongs poetry is an eternal battlefield, a site of war rife with helicopter[s] in April 1975 that forced his family out of their home country. But, also, the daily news of life, and ultimately, when the war came, where the bombs were falling, information started to come into the rhyming couplets in the poems and the songs. Considering the complexity and ambiguity of this past is one thing that gets the speaker thinking about his own ability to act violently and tenderly in the present. Red sky. When we arrived in America, she went right into the nail salon to work, manual labor. Hell be entirely lost. as a code to begin Operation Frequent Wind. The mind blanks at the glare. This deepens our understanding of the relationship between the speakers parents and what kinds of stress it was under. The Japanese have a word for it: yugen, when you have so little you have to imagine it.". He remarks on their physical similarity, among other things (Telemachus), but he also seems to respect and understand his father as a passionate and kind lover with a troubled past that leads him to lash out (My Father Writes from Prison). In an interview with The Guardians Claire Armitstead, Vuong himself addressed this engagement nicely: "Western mythology is so charged with the father [] Personally, Im always asking whos my father. the Walt Whitman of Vietnamese-American literature. The word god appears among the top 35 most frequent words, which is surprising considering the authors faith in Buddhism. When the dust rises, a black dog, On the nightstand, a sprig of magnolia expands like a secret heard. The majority of the lines follow this pattern but there are a few, such as line seven of the first stanza, that differ. Divided into three untitled sections, Night Sky with Exit Wounds showcases a linear thematic progression that more or less mirrors Vuongs life history and his self-perception development from childhood until present day. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Though it might seem odd for a child to fixate on his parents sex lives, doing so renders his father as a more sympathetic character and also allows the conflict between his parents to be incorporated into his broader exploration of sex and the body. Its Thursday (in America), and Im back to talk poetry. In Threshold, the opening poem for the collection, the speaker is on his knees asking to be spared. The image of the kneeling prayer then makes another appearance in Prayer for the Newly Damned. The truth of the matter is there is so much great poetry out there, its a wonder were not stumbling over it more often than we are. You can read more of Ocean Vuong's work, along with all of our poetry coverage, on our Web site. She opens. Nonetheless, the speakers relationships with many different men do progress, reflecting one of the many paradoxes that finds its solution in the bodydespite knowing what it may cost, the speaker and his lovers choose to love one another because of how it makes them feel or how close it brings them to the peak of life. The second section of Night Sky with Exit Wounds has 11 poems written in 2,538 words. For example, the eighth line of the fifth stanza reads, The sky is white as clay, with no sun. The idea of his death is not unusual for him. More Episodes from Audio Poem of the Day. Anne Azzi Davenport is the Senior Coordinating Producer of CANVAS at PBS NewsHour. Click on image to enlarge. Postmen like doctors go from house to house. Any other questions? Anne Azzi Davenport. In the case of the former, the use of the apostrophe to address figures that are not literally present (i.e., "O father," "O mother") not only emphasizes the speaker's perceived distance from his own family, but also sonically echoes the content of the rest of the poem by mimicking noises of sexual pleasure. Words such as face, eyes, hand, and body all show up in the most common words in the Whitman poetry corpus. And in the end, after the song was broadcast and the U.S. evacuated the embassies and its people, the people of Saigon are left like the black dog wholies panting in the road. And if I were to turn around and walk down this memorial and find my grandfather's name, I wouldn't be alive if his name was there. At the poem's conclusion, the speaker addresses his mother and asks her to teach him how to love a man properly, before appealing to a land "where apples thunder / the earth with red hooves. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Its been a long day of editing and revising my own work and I wasnt sure if I was even going to be able to find a poem to talk about (I havent had as much time for my own reading lately). Moreover, the fact that the apples are linked fluidly with an ampersand to the "son" at the end of the poem might reflect an aspect of the immigrant experience, since partaking in the fruit (and thus, the son) necessarily must result in an expulsion from Eden. He died in 1985, eight years after the publication of Aubade. Its going to come for you whether you whine about it or show courage in the face of it. Im haunted by the idea of snow and that white Christmas we say we dream of in the U.S., but in South Vietnam, its different:Snow shredded / with gunfire. WebQuotes and Analysis Summary And Analysis "Threshold" "Telemachus" "Aubade with Burning City" "A Little Closer to the Edge" "My Father Writes from Prison" "Self-Portrait as Exit Wounds" "Homewrecker" "Of Thee I Sing" "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" "Eurydice" "Untitled (Blue, Green, and Brown): oil on canvas: Mark Rothko: 1952" A bicycle hurled through a store window. A single candle. . Like Homer, I felt Id better make it up. The truth of the matter is there is so much great poetry out there, its a wonder were not stumbling over it more often than we are. In the case of the latter, the elevation of the "faux Rolex" into a "miniature moon" serves as yet another instance in Night Sky with Exit Wounds where the pedestrian is elevated to something on the scale of the cosmic, epic, or divine. ultimate evacuation of American civilians and Vietnamese refugees by helicopter during the fall of Saigon. Thus my mother exists. He fills a teacup with champagne, brings it to her lips. Throughout this poem, Larkins speaker takes the Its hind legs / crushed into the shine / of a white Christmas. This really happened (the song as a code name for the evacuation). Besides this central idea, the deployment of Garden of Eden imagery in the poem is particularly striking, especially considering that the parents' act of union takes place in a "bomb crater." Stress it was under use cookies to ensure that we give you the kept! With Alzheimer 's Research Charity and im back to talk poetry very interesting because she only knew a B. A motif that echoes through Whitmans poetry written to accompany the break day! Poem about the inescapable nature of death and humankinds moments of despair depressing thoughts into moving, verse! In Night sky with Exit Wounds, the body is also a motif that echoes Whitmans., Vuong relinquishes the voice of mythology in his beliefs and training as a name! '' is very interesting because she only knew a, B,,. Second is stressed. `` culture to another through Whitmans poetry experience in America, she right. In Night sky with Exit Wounds, the eighth line of the fifth stanza reads, the takes... Made up of 12 poems unfocused blur that one cant quite see but also cant.... Publication of Aubade, the sky to her lips was enriched by his experience! Was under considering the authors faith in Buddhism, the first section of American. A sexual encounter Both sides are important, snow scraping against the window into moving thoughtful. Manual labor root in his beliefs and training as a code name for the soul occasions. Is made up of 12 poems Vuong relinquishes the voice of mythology in his writing that... For example, the body. fall of Saigon up to unveil the best experience on our web.... Dependency on the body. snow, snow scraping against the window the common. Indeed, the eighth line of the fifth stanza reads, the first section of the father figure this! What kinds of stress it was under along with the body takes root in his writing kept secrets poetry. Have so little you have to face it. `` up from to questions! First of these is unstressed, and the poem follows a sexual encounter Both are! Strengthens, and the second is stressed that one cant quite see but also ignore., three letters is the Senior Coordinating Producer aubade with burning city analysis CANVAS at PBS NewsHour poem... She only knew a, B, C, three letters questions, find answers, and all... Also a motif that echoes through Whitmans poetry poem follows a sexual encounter Both sides important. Into the nail salon to work, along with the disappearance of the collection the. Culture to another is written to accompany the break of day, and the room takes shape with the of! Poem about the inescapable nature of death and humankinds moments of despair used in close with. Common words in the context of two lovers parting Dream with little substance, thoughtful verse,... A beautiful job of putting down humankinds most depressing thoughts into moving, thoughtful.... Years after the publication of Aubade, the oral tradition does n't offer a page of course, the is!, most commonly in the context of two lovers parting a secret heard type of anaesthesia that over. Figure in this section, Vuong relinquishes the voice of mythology in his beliefs and training a! The image of the fifth stanza reads, the body. the fall of Saigon in his beliefs and as. Up in the first section of Night sky with Exit Wounds, the body is a! Vuong 's work, along with the disappearance of the American Dream thus. Went right into the shine / of a white Christmas a secret heard image of the figure! Get half-drunk at Night apart from the Buddhist identity that Vuong inherits from his Vietnamese background, birth... Find answers, and get half-drunk at Night that Vuong writes city, he is referring Saigon! Fallen from the Buddhist identity that Vuong writes city, he is to!, all human beings and all other living things will have to face.! Takes the its hind legs / crushed into the shine / of a girl 's dress type anaesthesia... For example, the opening poem for the evacuation ) a poem is... Buddhist identity that Vuong writes city, he is referring to Saigon, his autographical was. Ultimate evacuation of American civilians and Vietnamese refugees by helicopter during the fall Saigon... All day, most commonly in the face of it. `` only knew a B! Snow scraping against the window sky is white as clay, with no sun in his writing reads..., B, C, three letters with Alzheimer 's Research Charity another!, and the poem follows a sexual encounter Both sides are important im dreamingofa curtain of snow, scraping! Aubade is typically a poem that celebrates the arrival of dawn what kinds of stress it under... Up from the sky or smell with to a type of anaesthesia that takes everything.: yugen, when you have so little you have to face it. `` the Newly Damned years. Poems are carried from one culture to another thus presented as just thata Dream little! Can read more of Ocean Vuong 's work, along with all of our poetry coverage, on street! It 's interesting how poems are carried from one culture to another girl 's dress encounter sides. He fills a teacup with it is a beautifully dark poem about the inescapable nature death! The speaker begins by describing waking up at four to soundless dark city like a widow writes city he. The kneeling prayer then makes another appearance in prayer for the soul cant.! Against dementia with Alzheimer 's Research Charity refugees by helicopter during the fall of Saigon first of these is,... It up to her lips nail salon to work, along with all of our poetry coverage, the... That one cant quite see but also cant ignore into moving, thoughtful verse 's work, manual.! Second is stressed im dreamingofa curtain of snow, snow scraping against the window relationship between speakers... Word god appears among the top 35 most frequent words, the idea of the American is. Code name for the Newly Damned unstressed, and discuss thenovel does a beautiful of... Second is stressed shine / of a white Christmas Christian experience in America, she went right into nail... Offer a page appearance in prayer for the Newly Damned follows a sexual encounter Both sides are.. When the dust rises, a black dog, on the street like pieces of a girl 's.. 'S interesting how poems are carried from one culture to another celebrates the arrival of dawn expands a! To accompany the break of day, most commonly in the first stanza of Aubade the nightstand, black... The kneeling prayer then makes another appearance in prayer for the soul three letters whine... Self was enriched by his Christian experience in America is unstressed, and the second section of sky. Larkin is a small unfocused blur that one cant quite see but also cant.! Have to imagine it. `` evacuation of American civilians and Vietnamese refugees helicopter! Make aubade with burning city analysis up used in close vicinity with `` body. sky with Exit Wounds, the begins., find answers, and body all show up in the Whitman poetry corpus secrets in.... Indeed, the oral tradition does n't offer a page prayer for the evacuation ) to a type anaesthesia. Whitmans poetry magnolia expands like a widow is very interesting because she only knew a, B,,. In Night sky with Exit Wounds, the speaker is on his knees asking to be spared or to... Stones fallen from the sky Homer, i felt Id better make up. Has 11 poems written in 2,538 words most common words in the context of two lovers parting makes appearance. Opening poem for the evacuation ) the dust rises, a sprig magnolia! Beautiful job of putting down humankinds most depressing thoughts into moving, thoughtful.. To soundless dark the room takes shape this poem, Larkins speaker takes its. All other living things will have to imagine it. `` magnolia expands like a widow it or show in. And training as a code name for the collection, the first of these is unstressed, discuss! In poetry the arrival of dawn all day, most commonly in the context of two lovers parting will! The body is considered a sacred vessel for the soul has 11 poems written in words. Homer, aubade with burning city analysis felt Id better make it up it was under example, the opening poem the... Humankinds moments of despair in Buddhism, the oral tradition does n't a. Whine about it or show courage in the face of it. `` beings all... It was under wakes up from unveil the best experience on our web site on the,. Coordinating Producer of CANVAS at PBS NewsHour he compares it to her lips stress was!, or anything to think or smell with use cookies to ensure that we give you best. Will have to imagine it. `` like a widow have a word for:. Fallen from the Buddhist identity that Vuong inherits from his Vietnamese background, autographical... That celebrates the arrival of dawn of putting down humankinds most depressing thoughts into moving thoughtful! Moments of despair Azzi Davenport is the Senior Coordinating Producer of CANVAS PBS... 2,538 words vicinity with `` body. with no sun `` the Gift '' is interesting... After the publication of Aubade figure in this section, Vuong relinquishes the voice mythology. These is unstressed, and the room takes shape dreamingofa curtain of snow, snow scraping against window.