Summary of the poem ‘Refugee Blues’ by W.H. Auden
‘Refugee Blues’ is a poignant poem that depicts the plight of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution in the late 1930s. The poem is written in the voice of a Jewish refugee speaking to their partner or companion.
The poem describes various scenes and situations that highlight the refugees’ desperate circumstances:
- They are denied a home and country, contrasted with the freedom of animals and birds.
- They face bureaucratic obstacles and indifference from potential host countries.
- The speakers recall the violence and oppression they fled, including the destruction of their synagogue.
- They experience isolation and alienation in their new surroundings.
- The poem emphasizes the contrast between the refugees’ desperation and the normalcy of life around them.
- It touches on themes of loss, displacement, and the search for safety and belonging.
Throughout, Auden uses repetition and a blues-like structure to reinforce the refugees’ sense of hopelessness and the cyclical nature of their struggles. The poem serves as a powerful critique of the international community’s response to the refugee crisis of that time.
Related questions
Explain some key points of present perfect continuous tense.