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Rukeyser’s Prescience

Poetry Friday has come around again, and this week I chose Muriel Rukeyser’s “Poem (I lived in the first century of world wars),” which begins:

"I lived in the first century of world wars.
Most mornings I would be more or less insane"

You can read the rest of the poem at the Poetry Foundation. Thanks to some Bluesky users for mentioning this one the other day. Its initial publication date is 1968! The despair, as well as the desire for peace and reconciliation, make sense for that awful year, and I'm amazed at how well it works for our era, not to mention just this past week, with its "various devices," the continual selling, and "careless stories." 

Let's keep reaching for the pen and paper.

The roundup for April 10th is at Jone Rush MacCulloch's place.

Photo by Susan Thomsen

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21 responses to “Rukeyser’s Prescience”

  1. Wezzlehead Avatar
    Wezzlehead

    Thanks for posting this. I’ve come across this poem before, but its impact doesn’t diminish.

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
    Susan.Thomsen

    You’re welcome! It floored me the first time I read it last week. Just so timely.

    Like

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  3. Tracey Kiff-Judson Avatar
    Tracey Kiff-Judson

    Fascinating that that poem was published in 1968! Last night I read an article about AI being able to find vulnerabilities in virtually any computer system. I spent the night dreaming of what that could unleash on this world. Thinking about the implications leaves me icy inside.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
      Susan.Thomsen

      Oh, gosh, I bet, Tracey. Scary.

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. Tabatha Avatar
    Tabatha

    Good pick, Susan! I keep seeing this poem around– it has a lot to offer. You are so right, “Let’s keep reaching for the pen and paper.”

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    1. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
      Susan.Thomsen

      Tabatha, I can sure see why it would be popping up everywhere lately!

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  5. Mona Voelkel Avatar
    Mona Voelkel

    Susan, the first line is so chilling to me, and then the reaching for the pen and the desire to connect so familiar. I wasn’t familiar with this poem and the fact that it was written in 1968 also chills, just like The Handmaid’s Tale being written in the 1980’s. I was alive in both those years and always believed we were moving away from wars and misogyny. Thank you, I am interested in reading more of Muriel Rukeyser’s work.

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    1. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
      Susan.Thomsen

      I didn’t know this poem either until last week. That’s a good analogy about The Handmaid’s Tale.

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  6. Linda M. Avatar
    Linda M.

    This poem is a keeper…sadly.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
      Susan.Thomsen

      Exactly, Linda.

      I realized this week I need to be reading more poetry because when I read more, I write more!

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  7. Denise Krebs Avatar
    Denise Krebs

    Susan, thank you for sharing Muriel Rukeyser’s poem. She was prescient, unfortunately had to be. Although, she certainly knew that this was “the first century of world wars,” which she repeated twice. Heartbreaking.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
      Susan.Thomsen

      Denise, right, the “first.” I’m just now grasping the significance. It’s a very powerful repetition, isn’t it?

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. cvarsalona Avatar
    cvarsalona

    Susan, the poem you shared is powerful yet frightening, “Considering a nameless way of living, of almost unimagined values.” Peace was asked for in those war years and peace asked for now. What we leave for the children is unimaginable during this chaotic time of living. Thank you for bringing this poem into the open as a call to action. L!t’s keep reaching for the pen and paper.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
      Susan.Thomsen

      I’m definitely going to read more of her work! I like the way you’ve framed it as a “call to action,” Carol. Yes, indeed!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. Karen Edmisten Avatar
    Karen Edmisten

    Wow, I’ve never seen this one before. You find the best stuff, Susan. This line walloped me:

    The newspapers would arrive with their careless stories,

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
      Susan.Thomsen

      Aw, thanks, Karen! I think the same of your posts. This one popped up in someone’s Bluesky note. I was reminded me of the good ole days on Twitter when I stumbled across so many books, articles, and poems to read there. I had to give up Twitter a ways back as it got just too toxic. Sigh.

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      1. Karen Edmisten Avatar
        Karen Edmisten

        Toxic is an understatement for Twitter these days, isn’t it? I left there a long time ago too!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
        Susan.Thomsen

        It’s the worst! And it was so fun, back before That Man ran for president the first time. Before it curdled, I really learned a lot.

        Like

  10. heidimordhorst Avatar
    heidimordhorst

    Susan, thank you for this. It’s one of those poems that goes naked into the world and pulls it off. I find there are few like that.

    “to reconcile

    Waking with sleeping, ourselves with each other,

    Ourselves with ourselves.”

    Yes, in every moment.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Susan.Thomsen Avatar
      Susan.Thomsen

      Had you read it before, Heidi? I hadn’t til last week and am glad I came across it. Love “goes naked into the world and pulls it off.”

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  11. heidimordhorst Avatar
    heidimordhorst

    no–new to me!

    Liked by 1 person

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