TODAY'S TOPIC:
Westminster Bridge,
July 7, 2005
by
Natalia J. Garland
Print Version
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Terrorists attacked London, England, on July 7, 2005. We have all
watched the news reports, viewed the horrific images, and listened
to the political analyses. My approach will be to honor the
victims by presenting a post-7/7 interpretation of a poem by the
British poet, William Wordsworth (1770-1850). Although Wordsworth
usually wrote about the beauty of nature, in the following poem
he wrote about the beauty of a city--London.
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Composed Upon Westminster Bridge.
Sept.2, 1802
Earth has not any thing to shew more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth like a garment wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendor valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still.
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Wordsworth compares
the beauty of a city made by man to the beauty of the earth.
Anyone unwilling to perceive such beauty must be dull of soul. I
can imagine the terrorists as having this dullness. They seem
determined to discount anything of value in America, Europe, and
Great Britain. Yet, Wordsworth felt that London was majestic in
its culture, commerce, business, architecture, and arts. How dull
the minds of terrorists, to live among Londoners and as Londoners,
and not to cherish these bright accomplishments.
London is perceived
as a night vision of calm, in the early morning hours before
people begin going to work. This, I believe, was well within the
grasp of the terrorists. That is to say, they conspired in secret
darkness against innocent and defenseless people. The terrorists
found openings, places that were asleep, and they struck. They
killed everyday people who were working for a living, they
destroyed transportation facilities, they burdened the city's
emergency resources, and they attempted to induce despair.
But London has a
mighty heart. People returned to work the next day. The
nation that produced Wordsworth, that survived the bombings of
World War II, bravely continued to go about business as usual
after 7/7. Perhaps the terrorists need to take a good look from
Westminster Bridge and realize the worth of other governments and
lifestyles.
Wordsworth was not
naive to unemployment and other problems of big cities. He was,
however, appreciative of beauty wherever it was manifested.
Wordsworth kept writing into his old age, and I expect Londoners
will keep going to work, living as fully as possible, and
rightfully protecting their nation for the rest of their lives.
(Written 07/13/05: bibliography available.)
Until we meet
again....... .......stay sane.
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