19 Varieties of Gazelle -- Part II Poem Comparison

"Jerusalem" and " Jerusalem Headlines 2000"

Both poems speak of the long-standing conflict in Jerusalem.  Both long for a change, a compromise, a final and lasting peace.  What is primarily different between the two poems is the tone in which they are written.  In "Jerusalem," Nye states "I'm not interested in/Who suffered the most./I'm interested in/people getting over it" (lines 1-4), and later, "Why are we so monumentally slow?"  (line 27).  The tone here seems to be one of impatience, and states that it is time to move on, and end this conflict.  In some ways, the poem is highly critical of the current state of affairs, for instance, the statement "If you tilt your head just slightly/ it's ridiculous" (lines 30-31).  I like how the narrator of this poem speaks frankly, acknowledging the tenderness of the issue, and yet clearly stating that the conflict in Jerusalem has gone on for far too long and, just as one must move on from an insult or pain inflicted by a friend, one must also move past greater conflicts.  The memory of an uneasy past will alway exist, and perhaps reminders will remain (such as the father's bald patch from where the rock struck him), but a solution must be found and it no longer matters who began the conflict or who inflicted or felt the most pain.

"Jerusalem Headlines 2000" has a gentler tone.  It is one of hope for the future, though in the later half of the poem, the narrator still writes with some impatience, asking "after all this time, just a hint?" (line 16) and repeating "Why not, why not, why not?" (line 24).  Still, there is a softer side to this poem, as seen in the lines "Palestinians & Israelis worked together/ in the West Bank rescue.../ a sweeter sentence than baklava/ than all the oranges of Jericho/ offered up to God!" (lines 9-13).  Perhaps this initial gentler tone exists because of the hope that is shown through the newspaper headlines (whereas in the previous poem, there is no evidence of hope for reconciliation, but only a firm belief that the time has come for peace between the two groups).  The impatience in the second half of the poem is similar to that seen in the other poem, the narrator wonders why there are only "hints" towards peace, why it is taking so long... again the message here is clear: peace now!  This poem ends with a sort of call to action, saying "Now, while we are fresh./ While the century is still a wide-open page./ Now, a new story to be made/ and everyone, with their fragrant nouns/ and muscular verbs/ to write it" (lines 26-31).  The first two short statements bring the narrator's goal into focus, and catch the readers attention.  The tone becomes a demanding one: now is the time.  The longer sentence at the end is cut up in such a way that emphasis is placed on the words 'now,' and 'and everyone,' thus it is made distinctly clear not only that peace ought to be reached, but that it must be brought about immediately, and that it will take a universal effort.