You feed me slices of Madeira cake, I roll two cigarettes and pour us mulled wine. When the wine and the cigarettes are done, we go down to the rocks and dance to shy cicada love songs. Whirling naked round and round we cast our inhibitions to the wind until spent and sated we lie in a musty cave mourning our crushed dreams of ’67. Eagles swoop down from the mountain. They devour the brown cicadas chanting a dirge of death. Later, we crawl back into the safety of the cave and watch the shadows dancing on the walls until the gates open to a vision of our future lives— shivering and looking for a shelter. We kiss one last time, then leaping into the dark abyss, we roar 'an eagle for a moment.'
Part of the Old Stories cycle of poems
A few words about the poem…
Reflections on the Lost Dreams and Shattered Innocence of the 1960s | Melancholy Poems
"Death of a Dream," from the Melancholy Poems series, tackles the complexity of lost innocence and shattered dreams, focusing on the turbulent 1960s. It paints a poignant portrait of a generation grappling with disillusionment and the harsh realities of life through its evocative imagery and layers of symbolism.
At its core, the poem is a lament for the idealism and optimism that characterized the youth of that era. Sharing mulled wine and slices of Madeira cake symbolizes a sense of companionship and camaraderie while also representing the innocence and purity of youth. However, as the characters consume the wine and cigarettes, their mood shifts and they descend into contemplation and mourning.
The dance on the rocks, accompanied by the "shy cicada love songs," is a metaphor for the fleeting nature of youthful passion and rebellion. It is a moment of defiance against societal norms and expectations, a brief respite from the constraints of reality. Yet, even as they whirl naked under the moonlight, a sense of impending doom lurks beneath the surface.
The imagery of eagles swooping down from the mountain conveys a dual meaning. On one level, it symbolizes the natural cycle of life and death, with the eagles representing both predators and scavengers. However, the mention of "brown cicadas chanting a dirge of death" hints at a darker reality, invoking the spectre of war and violence. It is a metaphor for the bombing and murder of the Vietnamese people by the US on the orders of Dr Kissinger, a criminal who went to his grave unpunished. It serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the Vietnam War, a symbol of the shattered dreams and aspirations of an entire generation.
As the characters retreat into the safety of the cave, they are confronted with the harshness of their reality. The shadows dancing on the walls serve as a metaphor for the uncertainty of their future, the looming spectre of adulthood and responsibility. Yet, even in the face of despair, there is a sense of defiance and resilience. The final leap into the dark abyss is a symbolic gesture, an affirmation of their existence in the face of an uncertain future.
In conclusion, "Death of a Dream" is a powerful exploration of loss, disillusionment, and the enduring human spirit. Through its layered imagery and poignant symbolism, the poem speaks to the universal experience of confronting the harsh realities of life while still holding onto the flickering embers of hope and resilience.
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