Tuesday, October 4, 2022

24 February 2022

Each time Russia's war against Ukraine comes on the news I can't help but compare Ted Hughes' poem "Tractor" with Putin and his invasion of that country.


24 February 2022


Putin mirrors Ted Hughes' "Tractor"

frozen in time, in snow and ice.


"Hands like wounds inside armor gloves. . ."

The despot's battery, his need to regain


Russian glory, "hammering and hammering"

until it "jabbers . . . mockingly / Into happy


life. / And stands / shuddering itself full

of heat . . ."  Vladimir triggers his troops,


". . . vibrating condemned obedience

Of iron to the cruelty of iron. . ."


and sends his hubris rumbling into Ukraine.



Marilyn Aschoff Mellor

 

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