The Portent
I wanted to touch on the The Portent for a moment to discuss the positives of Melville’s poetry. Before I began reading the poetry for the book, I had my laptop at the ready for words I wouldn’t understand. Once I got past the words that might have seemed a little complex/confusing, I found the poem to really speak about the spark of the civil war. The modest objective view Melville takes is a rare one during this century of black hate, which I find intriguing. Not only the way the poetry is written is objective and modest, but the types of words and descriptions are humble and almost safe would be the word to describe the style. “Hanging from the beam, Slowly swaying (such the law), Gaunt the shadow on your green, Shenandoah!” This line has this eerie touch to it, but still feels in compliance with the law. I enjoy this almost narrator look on the events that sparked the civil war.
I too had my laptop at the ready while reading Melville’s poetry to clarify any confusing words or references. I think my initial reading of The Portent did not do this poem justice. It has much more depth than I anticipated and was much more ominous when read out loud. I actually think Melville does take a stand in this poem, he does speak out against war. During Melville’s time, war was a very noble and heroic act to engage in. Fighting and defending one’s beliefs was not only applauded but encouraged. Melville, however, views war as a “meteor”, an omen (14). He understands that what has now been sparked is a deadly explosive rather than a patriotic firework. What has now been sparked is murder rather than relief. What has now been sparked will, like a meteor, imprint on American history for centuries and centuries to come.