What do you understand from this poem regarding to the complex make up of man kind?

I have to write an essay about this poem but I don't understand it,and I appreciate your help.


Street Funeral by Irving Layton:


Tired of chewing


the flesh


of other animals;


Tired of subreption and conciet


of the child's


bewildered conscience


failing heart valves


septic kidneys...


This frosty morning the coffin wood bursting into brilliant flowers'


Is he glad


that after all the lecheries'


betryals,subserviency,


After all the lusts,


false starts,evasions


he can begin


the unobstructed change


into clean grass


Done forever


with the insult


of birth,


the long adultery


with illusion?

What do you understand from this poem regarding to the complex make up of man kind?
Hmmm, interesting poem. It sounds like its main focus is man and his corrupted behavior. it sounds like society has taken a toll on his spirit and hes changed, but has been able to recognize his change and learn from his mistakes and become a better person because of it.....
Reply:Its about the dichotomy of bieng human, ie having to eat drink poop, have sex, experience lust, ambition etc etc, and yet having a spiritual side which seems to watch all this brutal behaviour, and despair, which is something we can feel, its like having a disapproving granny looking over our shoulder all the time, all the animal traits we have which stop us from attaining true spiritual enlightenment, fall away when the frail body is gone, all the illness and pain mental and bodily are all gone, and we can start again without the burden of it.





Thats my take on it anyway, dont like the poem much tho, its a bit random.
Reply:It's crap. Utter bilge.





To this day, I'm absolutely mystified how people get away with stringing random, unconnected words together in such a haphazard fashion, and calling it 'free verse'.





There is no artistry, no skill, no soul involved in any part of this. It is a slush-pile of arrogance and conceit.
Reply:Sounds to me like a man whose depressed; has a bad heart, and is dying. He either isn't sure to be glad to die so the suffering will be over, or to fight it and live longer.



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