Our Hunting Fathers W. H. Auden
"Our Hunting Fathers" by W. H. Auden is a poignant exploration of the relationship between humanity and nature, reflecting on the consequences of civilization's progress. The lyrics delve into themes of legacy, responsibility, and the loss of primal instincts.
Genre: #Poetry
Release Year: 1940
Main Themes: Nature vs. civilization, legacy, responsibility
Lyrical Meaning: A meditation on the impact of human actions on the environment and the loss of connection to our roots.
Unique Elements: Auden's use of vivid imagery and rhythmic structure enhances the emotional depth.
Cultural Impact: The poem remains relevant in discussions about environmentalism and human ethics.
Our hunting fathers told the story
Of the sadness of the creatures,
Pitied the limits and the lack
Set in their finished features;
Saw in the lion's intolerant look,
Behind the quarry's dying glare,
Love raging for the personal glory
That reason's gift would add,
The liberal appetite and power,
The rightness of a god.
Who, nurtured in that fine tradition,
Predicted the result,
Guessed Love by nature suited to
The intricate ways of guilt,
That human ligaments could so
His southern gestures modify
And make it his mature ambition
To think no thought but ours,
To hunger, work illegally,
And be anonymous?
Of the sadness of the creatures,
Pitied the limits and the lack
Set in their finished features;
Saw in the lion's intolerant look,
Behind the quarry's dying glare,
Love raging for the personal glory
That reason's gift would add,
The liberal appetite and power,
The rightness of a god.
Who, nurtured in that fine tradition,
Predicted the result,
Guessed Love by nature suited to
The intricate ways of guilt,
That human ligaments could so
His southern gestures modify
And make it his mature ambition
To think no thought but ours,
To hunger, work illegally,
And be anonymous?
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