Poetry combines words and structure to appeal to our senses: to make us feel - How does this statement apply to Louis Macneice's "Prayer Before Birth"?

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Karen Chang

9th GPL

Poetry combines words and structure to appeal to our senses: to make us feel.

How does this statement apply to Louis Macneice’s “Prayer Before Birth”?

It was once said that “poetry uses the best words in the best order.” In many cases, poetry helps us associate the given situation with our life and feelings. “Prayer Before Birth”, written by Louis Macneice during a time of conflict, uses various technical devices such as soaring stanzas, a progressing structure, chanting rhythm and confronting imagery to strengthen the message of the poem: corrupted and turbulent society we live today and the affected future generation.

Throughout the poem, we find series of contrasting and confronting images that emphasizes the violence and the corrupt nature of humankind. “I am not yet born; O hear me”. The idea of a baby looking for attention and care before it is born is very confronting to the “Blood baths”, “Black racks” and “tall walls” that the “human race” provides. The use of these conflicting images and the baby pleading creates a powerful voice, with a sense of innocence that expose the reality we live in.

In order reinforce this message; the poet uses juxtaposed imagery in stanzas two, three and four. Stanza two contains images of conflict such as “strong drugs”, “wise lies”, “blood baths” and “black racks”. These images describe situations where an outer influence affects your physical body and mind. In contrast, stanza three contains positive imagery such as “water to dandle me”, “grass to grow for me” and “a white light in the back of my mind to guide me”. These images are necessities that all babies need. Indeed, this short and positive pause implies a more negative and impacting effect on the next stanza. Stanza four is embodied with images of the reality we live in; the reality we give to the babies. “…Sins that…the world shall commit… treason engendered by traitors…murder…death.” These words seem to stand out and impact our conscience, as we were previously focusing on what babies deserve. The poet uses juxtaposed imagery to magnify the confronting feelings between what babies deserve and what reality gives to babies.

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The poem's development shows a progression of ideas in contrasting and confronting images. The ideas start weakly with childhood fears such as “bloodsucking bat” and “club-footed ghoul" and then moves on to stronger images as shown in stanza seven: “lethal automaton” and “cog in machine.” These images become stronger and more confronting. This causes a build up of emotions and

There is a further progression of ideas in the development of the baby. “O hear me…provide me...forgive me.” At the beginning of each line, there is a plea; this could be anyone of us. Firstly, babies need to be heard in ...

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