Can someone tell me the meaning of this poem? Here's the beginning: When those who can never again forgive the

Question

Finish their dinners, rear up from the chair,
Turning to movies, are caught in demonstrations
Sweeping the avenues- meet them there.
Watch how their faces change like traffic light-
Bold blood gone green as horses pound the street, 
As the plates of sweated muscle push
Them squarely back into retreat.
Notice their tremulous late overthrow, 
Caught irresponsible; as the first rank presses
Up at the brown animal breast of law, 
Defying government by horses.
And after the quick night-flurry, the few jailed, 
The march stampeded, the meeting stopped, go down
Night-streets to unique rooms where horror ends,
Strike-songs are sung, and the old songs remain.
Vaguely Ilonka draws her violin
Along to Bach, greatest of trees, where under
Earth is again familiar, grandmother, 
And very god-music branches overhead.
Changeable spirit!  Build a newer music
Rich enough to feed starvation on.
Course down the night, past scenes of horror, among
Children awake, lands ruined, begging

TzodEarf · Accepted Answer

First, let me preface my answer with -  I hate this kind of poetry!

I read it a couple of times.  After reading it once it reminded me of "A Tale of Two Cities," by Dickens.  

After the second reading, my impression is that it is about the rich oppressing the poor and being ignorant of their oppression until they leave their comfortable lairs to go out on the town.  Once in the streets they normally are used to traveling with impunity, they find themselves in the middle of a demonstration by the wretched of the earth (poor people).  However, the police are out making a show of force, beating back the mob.

In the end, there is a call to exchange rich tastes for the brotherhood of mankind.

This poem plays well to me living in Cincinnati, Ohio.  We had a riot not long before 9/11.  The undercurrents of oppression of the rich against the poor still run through the river that is Cincinnati.  That's my opinion.  I think this poem is a call for the rich to get their priorities in order.

Moe ya know · Answer

It's seems like it has to do with a war. A war caused because someone couldn't forgive soemthing that had taken place. So they just moved on fueling a fire that caused pain for their side and there enemy!

Anonymous · Answer

I could mean all sorts of things, but I think it's horrible.
.

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Can someone tell me the meaning of this poem? Here's the beginning: When those who can never again forgive the

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