Poem Say this city has ten Million Souls (W. H. Auden) Summary Imp Qs Ref Explanation

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Poem:

Say this city has ten million souls,
Some are living in mansions, some are living in holes:
Yet there’s no place for us, my dear, yet there’s no place for us.

Once we had a country and we thought it fair,
Look in the atlas and you’ll find it there:
We cannot go there now, my dear, we cannot go there now.

In the village churchyard there grows an old yew,
Every spring it blossoms anew;
Old passports can’t do that, my dear, old passports can’t do that.

The consul banged the table and said:
‘If you’ve got no passport, you’re officially dead’;
But we are still alive, my dear, but we are still alive.

Went to a committee; they offered me a chair;
Asked me politely to return next year:
But where shall we go today, my dear, but where shall we go today?

Came to a public meeting; the speaker got up and said:
‘If we let them in, they will steal our daily bread’;
He was talking of you and me, my dear, he was talking of you and me.

Thought I heard the thunder rumbling in the sky;
It was Hitler over Europe, saying: ‘They must die’;
We were in his mind, my dear, we were in his mind.

Saw a poodle in a jacket fastened with a pin,
Saw a door opened and a cat let in:
But they weren’t German Jews, my dear, but they weren’t German Jews.

Went down the harbour and stood upon the quay,
Saw the fish swimming as if they were free:
Only ten feet away, my dear, only ten feet away.

Walked through a wood, saw the birds in the trees;
They had no politicians and sang at their ease:
They weren’t the human race, my dear, they weren’t the human race.

Dreamed I saw a building with a thousand floors,
A thousand windows and a thousand doors;
Not one of them was ours, my dear, not one of them was ours.

Stood on a great plain in the falling snow;
Ten thousand soldiers marched to and fro:
Looking for you and me, my dear, looking for you and me.

Introduction

The poem brings out very aptly the fact that man today stands imprisoned in numberless shackles or chains, such as the chains of race, color, nationality, passports, visas etc. This is a poem of estrangement and alienation. Basically it was written by the poet to describe the poor and humiliating conditions of the German Jews who fled from their country afraid of Hitler's persecution but the poem may describe any other immigrants in equally a suitable way.

Summary

The poem is, in fact, a song supposed to have been sung by the German Jews who migrated to the U.S.A. afraid of the persecution by Hitler during the period of Second World War. They say that according to the people the city of New York has a large population of one crore (ten million). Some of the people are rich and some are poor. Still there is no place for the poor immigrants. They used to have a country of their own once but they cannot go there although it is still there. Even the yew trees growing in the village churchyard bring new blossoms every year in spring season but their passports, once old, never grow new. On the other hand there is a need for passport as a person without a passport is treated as non-entity in the official records.

They went to a committee but they were asked to return after one year for the solution of their problems. What will they do in the meantime? They heard a political leader speaking against them in a public meeting. They heard Hitler talking against them on the radio in Europe. They were miserably helpless.

The dogs, cats, birds and even fishes are free there to move as they like but they (the immigrants) are not free to move as they like. They see dreams about thousand storeyed houses but there is no floor or even a room for them there. Even if they move to snow-covered open areas, they are hunted there by the soldiers and brought back (perhaps to their camps). They are passing a horribly miserable life which is even at a lower-level than animal life. Still other human beings do not bother about them at all and do not realise that the immigrants too, are human beings like them.

Important Questions

Questions No 1. Critically evaluate the poem "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Or. Bring out the theme, style and rhythm of the poem "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Or. What are the beauties and delicacies of W. H. Auden's "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls".

Ans. This is a very serious poem written in a light manner. The poet presents a serious thought for our consideration, the thought of man misbehaving with man on the basis of political, religious, or other such differences. Human life, when imprisoned in the chains of these difference, falls down beneath the animal level.

The tone of the writer is satiric but light. He presents the item/theme for us to consider but at no place becomes sour or bitter. Such a satire is better placed in literature as well as in life. The poet is able to impress us a lot and the poem leaves a lasting impression on us not only for the present but also for the future. The subject matter of the poem is humanitarian and, hence, very noble and sublime. It relates with man's political distribution in the world society. It promotes human love and friendship and makes us realize our narrow mindedness that divides man into different compartments.

The poem is about the German Jews who migrated to the U. S. A. for the fear of the Hitler's cruel treatment. It is sort of dramatic address or song in which they tell us about their bad condition. They know that the city of New York holds one crore persons, some very rich, others very poor. But the city does not have any shelter for them. They cannot return to their own country for fear of Hitler. Their passports have grown out-dated and do not hold any weight politically. Even yew trees in churchyards/graveyards have their spring time but the German Jews immigrants do not have any spring time. Even the political leaders of he U. S. A. speak against them. They are hunted and caught. They are not helped. Even the dogs, cats, fishes and birds have a home and can move freely here and there. But the immigrants do not have even as much freedom. Even in their dreams they see thousand-storeyed houses with numberless rooms - but there is no room for them at all.

The theme has been treated very seriously and rather satirically. The poet presents the case of the immigrants very ingenuously and cleverly. He makes a comparison between man's life and bird (or animal) life. Even the birds, dogs, cats, fishes are free. They have a home. They are cared for. But the immigrants are deprived of all such facilities of life. The imagery of the poem, so to speak, is very real and full of reality.

The words used by the poet are evocative. They make us share the misery of the immigrants. The air of the poem is full of pathos. We are much impressed by the miserable lot of the fellows described in the poem. The repetition of the word "my dear" in third line of every stanza makes us feel on with them. Moreover, the repetition of the third line (except the words "my dear") in every stanza in the fourth line leaves a sort of reassuring influence upon us and we cannot but be impressed with the style!

The poem is a sort of dramatic dialogue, or appeal of the immigrants to the public/readers. It has been written in 4 line stanzas with the first and second line of every stanza rhyming with each-other like heroic couplets and third line repeated (minus "my dear" as stated above!) in the fourth one for a sort of reassurance of the statement. All the lines are end stopped, without any sort of enjambment. The feet are neither regular nor equal in lines. They vary freely like free verse but the repetition of 3rd line into fourth gives a sort of repeated rhythm and music. The syllables vary between 6 and 14. Majority of the words in the repeated lines are monosyllabic. The poem leaves an effect on us as desired by the poet. It is a very successful poem. The poet has successfully captured the sense of alienation, estrangement and isolation of the "forced" immigrants and has made us aware of their social, political and human problems. It is written for the German immigrant Jews but its appeal is universal - it fits any sort of immigrants very effectively.

Question No 2. Bring out the misery and plight that was faced by the migrating German Jews in the U. S. A. (or New York)? [Say This City Has Ten Million Souls: W. H. Auden]

Ans. The poem "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden tells us about the misery and plight of those German Jews that had migrated from Germany to U. S. A., specially to New York, for the fear of persecution at the hands of the Nazi Regime headed by Adolf Hitler.

These people were living at a sub-human level. They could not move freely. They could not have any solution of their problem. Even the American politicians were against their settlement in the U. S. A. They were the prey of the estrangement, alienation and isolation. Even dogs and cats were (at least the pet ones) welcomed into cozy homes, but not the refugees. Even the fishes could swim freely. Even the birds could fly in the air and sing happily and freely. But the immigrants could not enjoy such facilities.

They had their homeland, i. e., Germany still present on the pages of the Atlas but her gates were shut up for them. They could not return there as Hitler still ruled there and if they returned, he would kill them. Here in the U. S. A. they were facing the questions of identity and entity. Their passports had expired and could not be renewed.

Their life was miserable. They were, perhaps, kept in refugee camps. And if they would try to leave that and go somewhere else, they were searched out and brought back by the soldiers to their camps. They were living a very poor life. There was a lot misery in their life. One feels sad for them when one reads the poem.

Question No 3. The poet has used several numerical images: what effect does this create?

Ans. The poet has used several numerical images. This creates an effect of contrast. We at once begin feeling contrast between the rich city and the poor miserable refugees living in poor condition.

Question No 4. What is the basic theme of the poem?

Ans. The basic theme of the poem is alienation, estrangement and isolation of the immigrants/refugees in the new land. They have to live at sub-standard level. They are looked down upon. They are ill-treated. They are not looked after well.

Questions No 5. What are some of the typically urban elements of the poem?

Ans. This poem has many typically urban elements. The poet talks about "ten million souls" living in "mansions" and "holes". He talks about the "passports". He talks about the "consul" banging "the table". He talks about the "committee" that "offered" "a chair" but did not solve the problems. He talks about "a public meeting" where the "speaker" was talking about a pet dog, "a poodle" in "a jacket". He talks about "the harbour" and "the quay". He talks about a dream of "a building with thousand floors" and "no one" for the refugees. All these are typically urban elements.

Reference, Context and Explanation:

Lines 1-4: Say this city ... for us.

Say this city has ten million souls,
Some are living in mansions, some are living in holes:
Yet there’s no place for us, my dear, yet there’s no place for us.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

The poet tells us in this poem about the miserable condition of the immigrant German Jews. They face estrangement and alienation in the U.S.A. They face numberless barriers and have to live an isolated and miserable life.

Explanation:

Although this city of New York has a large population of rich as well as poor people, yet there is no place for the immigrants. Rich people of the city live in high and luxurious buildings whereas the poor people live in slums. But the immigrants have no shelter at all.

Lines 5-8: Once we had ... there now.

Once we had a country and we thought it fair,
Look in the atlas and you’ll find it there:
We cannot go there now, my dear, we cannot go there now.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

Before migrating to the U.S.A., the German Jews had a native land of their own, i.e., Germany. But they have left the place and cannot return for the fear of Hitler. That was a beautiful country but it is not present for them now in-spite of being physically present.

Lines 9-12: In the village ... do that.

In the village churchyard there grows an old yew,
Every spring it blossoms anew;
Old passports can’t do that, my dear, old passports can’t do that.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

Even the yew trees (a symbol of grief) blossom during every spring season although they grow in graveyards where people lie dead and buried in their graves. But the passports of the immigrants cannot be renewed when expired. So much people have to face numberless difficulties but nobody realizes their difficulties.

Lines 13-16: The consul banged ... still alive.

The consul banged the table and said:
‘If you’ve got no passport, you’re officially dead’;
But we are still alive, my dear, but we are still alive.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

The immigrants went to the consul for solution of their problems. The consul said that first they should prove their identity and then they could register their problems. But the poor fellows did not have any passports, so they couldn't prove their identity. They were, therefore, like dead persons and were treated as such by the consul.

Lines 17-20: Went to a committee ... go today?

Went to a committee; they offered me a chair;
Asked me politely to return next year:
But where shall we go today, my dear, but where shall we go today?

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

The immigrant went before a committee for the solution of their problems. The members of the committee asked them to return next year. But the question remained as to what they will do in the meantime.

Lines 21-24: Came to a ... you and me.

Came to a public meeting; the speaker got up and said:
‘If we let them in, they will steal our daily bread’;
He was talking of you and me, my dear, he was talking of you and me.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

The immigrant went to a public meeting. They thought that their problems might be solved by political leaders. But there they heard a leader speak against them. He was saying that if they would allow the immigrants to settle there, the immigrants would steal their bread.

Lines 25-28: Thought I heard ... in his mind.

Thought I heard the thunder rumbling in the sky;
It was Hitler over Europe, saying: ‘They must die’;
We were in his mind, my dear, we were in his mind.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

The immigrant Jews could not return to Germany as Hitler still ruled there and he had announced that all the Jews of Germany must be killed and Germany purified of the Jews. Hitler talked in a very bombastic way.

Lines 29-32: Saw a poodle ... German Jews.

Saw a poodle in a jacket fastened with a pin,
Saw a door opened and a cat let in:
But they weren’t German Jews, my dear, but they weren’t German Jews.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

An immigrant saw a dog in a goodly dress and a cat going into comfortable house. But these animals were welcomed by the Americans in their homes whereas the German Jews were not welcomed (although they deserved a better treatment as they were, after-all, human beings).

Lines 33-36: Went down the ... ten feet away.

Went down the harbour and stood upon the quay,
Saw the fish swimming as if they were free:
Only ten feet away, my dear, only ten feet away.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

An immigrant one day went to the port and stood on the dock. He saw fishes swimming freely in the sea-water only ten feet away from his feet. He felt envious of the fishes that could move freely because he could not move freely in society being an immigrant.

Lines 37-40: Walked through ... human race.

Walked through a wood, saw the birds in the trees;
They had no politicians and sang at their ease:
They weren’t the human race, my dear, they weren’t the human race.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

One day an immigrant passed through a small forest and saw the birds flying freely and happily there. He felt envious of the birds. The birds did not have a politician to make their lives miserable by dividing them into nationalities etc. They were better than human beings. That is why they were singing and flying happily.

Lines 41-44: Dreamed I saw ... was ours.

Dreamed I saw a building with a thousand floors,
A thousand windows and a thousand doors;
Not one of them was ours, my dear, not one of them was ours.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

An immigrant saw a thousand-storeyed building in his dream. The building was so spacious. It had a thousand doors and a thousand windows. Many people lived in that building but there was no room in that for the dreamer. He was hopeless (even in his dream).

Lines 45-48: Stood on a great ... you and me.

Stood on a great plain in the falling snow;
Ten thousand soldiers marched to and fro:
Looking for you and me, my dear, looking for you and me.

Reference:

These lines have been taken from "Say This City Has Ten Million Souls" by W. H. Auden.

Context:

Explanation:

The immigrants went to an open area outside the city to find some shelter there. It was snowing and the weather was very rough. But ten thousand soldiers reached there to bring them back. They could not remain even there freely. They were forced back perhaps to the refugee camps.

Poem Say this city has ten Million Souls (W. H. Auden) Summary Imp Qs Ref Explanation