Peter Skrzynecki (Ancestors)

stanza 1 the figures have a iniquitymarish quality which is developed through simple but reminiscent visual imagery they hang over you and stand shoulder joint to shoulder which makes them threatening in number and intimidating in stance the sibilance at heart the last line augments the tenor of disquiet created by the poets abduce to these nameless and faceless men no reference is made to women which too increases the veiled threat implied by shadowy figures. ne possible meter reading of this might be that male ancestors have greater impact on his cultural and social identity stanza 2 the darkness becomes tinged with urgency as his sleep is broken by whispered secrets. nothing is distinct or clear, developing an atmosphere of uneasiness. it is a scene we can identify with, those pitiful dreams and nightmares that can come to us all in the middle of the night reference is made to the ever-open eyes of these figures. we wonder what are they looking at or for, and wether their appearance is a negative or positive omen. t also leads us to wonder whether their visions are insightful or indicative stanza 3 the ring they form around the poet is both encircling and nevertheless directional, their pointing fingers and footprints leading elsewhere to undetermined places. the term ring generates a legitimate feeling of alarm, as if the sleeping figure is cosmos entrapped by these figures from the gone directions are unclear, mirroring the indistinct quality of dreams. it also raises the level of uncertainty and apprehension felt by the dreamer stanza 4 hese nocturnal visitors are apt(p) a natural backdrop, simply described as a mountain, river, apparent(a)s, grasses and gumption simple, sensory imagery describes the sound of a river and a moonlit plain giving some semblance of place but not enough to get any real bearings or location it is still a dream-liek landscape ill-defined but evocative and disquitening stanza 5 we ponder what these speechless, p repared and hovering figures wait for and question their purpose urgency is created by the use of style which creates a pregnant pause in the middle of the question being asked. his involves the reader in the questioning process, challenging us to respond from a personal perspective it appears that these dead ancestors form the past are awaiting untested members to join their host, adding resonance to the death content developed earlier Stanza 6 the nightmarish quality is not relieved by wakefulness which brings moderate relief disquiet remains, for consciousness ironically makes their faces disappear just as they became clearer.They remain metaphorically out of reach the visual intensity of the fable dry/as cake mud emphasises the negative impact of this hereditary visitation which neither soothes nor appeases the dreamer stanza 7 this is the only stanza with three lines alternatively of four the brevity adds to the discordant images of un-stirring sand, grass and wind which tastes of blood. the upending of typical senses jars our expectations the reference to the taste of blood refers again to the death theme and adds to the readers sense of nightmarish disorientation. mirroring that felt by the unrestrained sleeper by the disturbed sleeper.