Refugee Blues
W. H. Auden's 'Refugee Blues' is a poignant reflection on the plight of Jewish refugees during the rise of Nazi Germany. The poem uses the blues form, traditionally associated with expressing sorrow and hardship, to convey the despair and alienation felt by refugees. The repeated refrain 'my dear' adds a personal and intimate tone, emphasizing the shared suffering of the speaker and their companion. The poem contrasts the freedom and renewal found in nature with the harsh realities faced by the refugees, who are denied a place to call home. The imagery of the yew tree, which blossoms anew each spring, symbolizes renewal and hope, yet the refugees' old passports cannot offer them the same rebirth. The poem also critiques the bureaucratic indifference and xenophobia that refugees encounter, as seen in the consul's declaration that without a passport, they are 'officially dead.' The poem's references to Hitler and the threat of war underscore the urgency and danger faced by the refugees. Auden's use of simple language and repetition highlights the universality of the refugees' plight, making their suffering accessible and relatable to the reader.
| Word | Easy Meaning | Translation | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| souls | people | individuals or persons | sohlz |
| mansions | large houses | big, luxurious homes | man-shuhnz |
| holes | small, poor places | cramped, inadequate living spaces | hohlz |
| atlas | map book | a book of maps | at-luhs |
| yew | type of tree | a kind of evergreen tree | yoo |
| consul | official | government representative | kon-suhl |
| quay | dock | a platform by the water for loading and unloading ships | kee |
| ease | comfort | without difficulty or stress | eez |
| plain | flat land | a large, flat area of land | pleyn |
| thunder | loud noise from the sky | the sound following a lightning flash | thuhn-duhr |
| rumbling | deep, rolling sound | a low, continuous noise | ruhm-bling |
| blossoms | flowers | blooms or flowers appearing | blos-uhmz |
| officially | formally | in a way recognized by authority | uh-fish-uh-lee |
| steal | take without permission | to take something that isn't yours | steel |
| harbour | place for ships | a sheltered area for ships | har-buhr |
| politicians | government leaders | people involved in politics | pol-i-tish-uhnz |
| floors | levels | stories or levels of a building | flawrz |
| soldiers | army men | members of the military | sohl-jurz |
Wystan Hugh Auden was a British-American poet known for his stylistic and technical achievements in poetry. His work engaged with politics, morals, love, and religion. Auden moved to the United States in 1939 and became an American citizen in 1946.
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