A City's Death By Fire Comments

5 Stars full for this difficult to understand poem, but most deserveing as The Modern Poem Of The Day.

The Nobel Prize winner oft writes about his own environment, his own town, about the great problem of Roman Catholics and the Baptism. Since he was also a good painter, this poem shows impressionism details. Excellently presented

Few lines I quote here: In town, leaves were paper, but the hills were a flock of faiths; To a boy who walked all day, each leaf was a green breath 5 Stars full

Brilliantly composed by the Nobel Prize winner poet. Few lines I quote here:

The burning of Castries, the capital of St Lucia. Buildings can be rebuilt.

In town, leaves were paper, but the hills were a flock of faiths; To a boy who walked all day, each leaf was a green breath Rebuilding a love I thought was dead as nails, Blessing the death and the baptism by fire. A great poem indeed. tony

To a boy who walked all day, each leaf was a green breath Rebuilding a love I thought was dead as nails, Blessing the death and the baptism by fire. a very fine poem. tony

'To a boy who walked all day, each leaf was a green breath' - the only line of the poem that made sense to me!

Under a candle's eye, that smoked in tears, I Wanted to tell, in more than wax, of faiths that were snapped like wire. All day I walked abroad among the rubbled tales, ......wonderfully expressed on the tone of melancholy; this is ruined city where the humanity is fully cracked and devastated, where no rules for human rights is valid, , , , , all are beastly manners

This is a fascinating piece of work. The imagery is precise, and the choice of rhymes is precise, while the theme is extremely complex. I like this poem very much; I will read it several times. Thanks for sharing it.

In town, leaves were paper, but the hills were a flock of faiths; To a boy who walked all day, each leaf was a green breath Rebuilding a love I thought was dead as nails, Blessing the death and the baptism by fire..........poetic brilliant expression; just love it

I see some ambivalence about religion and preachers in 'A City's Death by Fire'. It is like love-hate of 'the hot gospeller'- fire and brimstone which levels everything to the ground. 'Faiths snapped like wire' -that can happen to believers.A different, religious tone in 'By the smoking sea, where Christ walked'. A great poem of contradictions.

" Rebuilding love I thought was dead as nails Blessing the death and the baptism bt fire" Great conceptualization. Well deserved modern poem of the day.

A poem par excellence, sir Derek. Congrats for being selected.....10+++++++++

What a sonnet, welcome to a new voice at PH

Loud was the bird-rocked sky, and all the clouds were bales Torn open by looting, and white, in spite of the fire. great expression 10++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Muse of love and life! ! ! Rebuilding a love which l thought was dead as nails! 🤗✒💡📚🎓 Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

Rebuilding a love which l thought was dead as nails! ! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

Derek Walcott is St. Lucian, and this poem is actually about the Castries city fire, where everything was burnt down except the church. But it can take on many different perspectives as described.

Appreciate the poem as it evolves around faith and affection.