Poetry Analysis

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Giuseppe

Original Poetry

Translation

My Uncle Giuseppe told me

that in Sicily in World War Two,

that during World War Two in Sicily,

in the courtyard behind the aquarium,

where the bougainvillea grows so well,

where the bougainvillea grows well,

the only captive mermaid in the world

was butchered on the dry and dusty ground

was killed on the dry ground

by a doctor, a fishmonger, and certain others.

by a doctor, a fish seller, and others.

She, it, had never learned to speak

She never learned to speak

because she was simple, or so they’d said,

because she was simple, they said,

but the priest who held one of her hands

but the priest holding her hand

while her throat was cut,

said she was only a fish, and fish can’t speak.

said she was just a fish, and fish can't speak.

But she screamed like a woman in terrible fear.

But she screamed like a terrified woman.

And when they took a ripe golden roe

When they took a golden fish egg

from her side, the doctor said

this was proof she was just a fish

this proved she was just a fish

and anyway an egg is not a child,

and an egg is not a child,

but refused when some was offered to him.

but he refused to eat it.

Then they put her head and her hands

They buried her head and hands

in a box for burial

in a box

and someone tried to take her wedding ring,

and someone tried to take her marriage band,

but the others stopped him,

but others stopped him,

and the ring stayed put.

and the ring stayed.

The rest they cooked and fed to the troops.

The rest they cooked and fed to soldiers.

They said a large fish had been found on the beach.

They said a big fish was found on the beach.

Starvation forgives men many things,

Extreme hunger excuses many things,

my uncle, the aquarium keeper, said,

but couldn’t look me in the eye,

but he couldn't look me in the eye,

for which I thank God.

which I am grateful for.

Explanation

The poem 'Giuseppe' by Roderick Ford is a narrative that recounts a disturbing tale told by the speaker's uncle about an event during World War II in Sicily. The uncle describes how a mermaid, captured and held behind an aquarium, was killed by a group of people, including a doctor and a fishmonger. The mermaid, unable to speak, is dehumanized and treated as a mere fish, despite screaming in fear, which evokes a sense of humanity. The poem explores themes of moral ambiguity and the justifications people make in desperate times, such as war. The mermaid's roe is used as evidence of her being a fish, yet the doctor refuses to consume it, highlighting his internal conflict. The burial of her head and hands, along with the attempt to steal her wedding ring, symbolizes the struggle between preserving dignity and succumbing to survival instincts. The poem ends with the uncle's inability to meet the speaker's eyes, suggesting guilt and shame for his role in the event. Through this allegory, Ford reflects on the loss of innocence and the moral compromises made during wartime.

Word Dictionary12

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
bougainvillea	a flowering plant	a type of plant with colorful flowers	boo-gain-vil-lee-ah
captive	imprisoned	kept in confinement	kap-tiv
butchered	killed violently	killed in a very violent way	boo-cherd
fishmonger	fish seller	a person who sells fish	fish-mong-er
priest	religious leader	a person authorized to perform religious rites	preest
roe	fish eggs	fish eggs	roh
starvation	extreme hunger	extreme lack of food	star-vay-shun
aquarium	place for aquatic animals	a place for keeping fish	uh-kwair-ee-um
mermaid	mythical sea creature	a sea creature with a woman's top half and a fish's tail	mur-mayd
wedding ring	marriage band	a ring that shows someone is married	wed-ding ring
troops	soldiers	military forces	troops
forgives	pardons	excuses or absolves	for-givs

Poet & Context

PoetRoderick Ford

EraContemporary

Roderick Ford is a contemporary poet known for his vivid storytelling and exploration of complex themes. His work often delves into historical and mythical narratives, blending them with modern sensibilities.

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WhenPublished in 2005

WhyThe poem 'Giuseppe' by Roderick Ford reflects on the moral complexities and dehumanization during wartime. It uses the allegory of a mermaid's execution to explore themes of guilt, survival, and the loss of innocence.

FormNarrative Poem

Themes & More

Themes

Moral ambiguityDehumanizationWar and survivalGuilt and shame

Literary devices

Allegory: The mermaid's story symbolizes the dehumanization and moral compromises during war.Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the courtyard and the mermaid's execution create a stark visual impact.Irony: The mermaid is treated as a fish, yet her human-like scream suggests otherwise.Symbolism: The wedding ring represents lost innocence and humanity.