Poem Analysis - Bas Relief

Carl Sandburg's "Bas-relief" presents a vivid and somewhat enigmatic scene involving five geese. The poem's tone is initially mysterious and somewhat solemn, with a hint of grandeur and pride. The mood shifts subtly, maintaining a sense of reverence and dignity throughout. The poem's form, with its repetitive phrases and stanzas, reinforces the solemn and deliberate pace of the geese's procession.

Imagery and Symbolism

The poem is rich in imagery, particularly visual and auditory. The "flagstaffs," "silver bugles," and "drum-major" create a sense of a ceremonial procession, while the "plum-blossoms dropping" adds a touch of natural beauty and transience. These images collectively evoke a sense of ritual and honor, suggesting that the geese are part of a significant, perhaps ancient, tradition. The repetition of "mysteriously" and "somberly, slowly, unimpeachably" emphasizes the deliberate and dignified nature of the geese's movements, reinforcing the theme of honor and tradition.

Themes of Honor and Tradition

The poem develops the theme of honor through the description of the geese as being "charged with the honor of the ancient goose nation." This phrase suggests a deep sense of responsibility and pride in their lineage and role. The "nose-lengths surpassing the nose-lengths of rival nations" adds a competitive element, indicating that this honor is not just about tradition but also about superiority. The geese's solemn and deliberate movements further emphasize their commitment to this honor, making it a central theme of the poem.

Nature and Mystery

The natural elements in the poem, such as the geese and the plum-blossoms, contribute to the theme of mystery. The geese's actions are described as "mysterious," and their procession is "unimpeachably" dignified, suggesting a deep, perhaps unknowable, significance to their movements. The plum-blossoms dropping for the geese's "web-feet" adds a touch of the ephemeral and the beautiful, hinting at the transient nature of life and honor. This theme of mystery is reinforced by the poem's overall tone and the lack of explicit explanation for the geese's actions.

The Geese as Symbols

The geese themselves are powerful symbols in the poem. They represent tradition, honor, and a sense of national or communal pride. Their "nose-lengths surpassing the nose-lengths of rival nations" suggests a competitive aspect to this pride, hinting at a broader theme of rivalry and superiority. The geese's solemn and deliberate movements also symbolize a deep sense of responsibility and dignity, reinforcing the themes of honor and tradition. The geese's mysterious and dignified procession could be seen as a metaphor for any group or individual carrying on a significant tradition or honor.

Conclusion

"Bas-relief" by Carl Sandburg is a poem that explores themes of honor, tradition, and mystery through vivid imagery and symbolic geese. The poem's solemn tone and deliberate pace reinforce the sense of dignity and responsibility carried by the geese, making them powerful symbols of tradition and pride. The natural elements and the mysterious nature of the geese's actions add depth to these themes, inviting readers to reflect on the significance of honor and tradition in their own lives. The poem's final insight is that honor and tradition are not just about the past but also about the present and future, as embodied in the geese's solemn and dignified procession.