No Men Are Foreign ( Poem)
About the Author
James Kirkup (born April 23, 1918) is a prolific English poet, translator and travel writer. He was brought up in South Shields, and educated at Durham University. He has written over 45 books, including biographies, novels and plays. He became a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1962.
Amongst his honours, Kirkup held the Atlantic Award for Literature from the Rockefeller Foundation in 1950; he was elected the Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1962; he won the Japan PEN Club Prize for Poetry in 1965; and was awarded the Scott-Moncrieff Prize for translation in 1992. In 1997, he was presented with the Japan Festival Foundation Award and invited by the Emperor and Empress to the Imperial New Year Poetry Reading at the Palace in Tokyo.
Bibliography
Poetry
The Drowned Sailor (1947)
The Submerged Village and Other Poems (1951)
A Correct Compassion and Other Poems (1952)
A Spring Journey and Other Poems 1952–1953 (1954)
The Descent into the Cave and Other Poems (1957)
The Prodigal Son, Poems 1956 – 1959 (1959)
Refusal to Confirm Last and First Poems (1963)
No Men Are Foreign (1966) (though was composed in 1966 but was the first in his collections of poetry)
The Caged Bird in Springtime (1967)
White Shadows, Black Shadows: Poems of Peace & War (1970)
The Body Servant: Poems of Exile (1971)
A Bewick Bestiary (1971; 2009)
The Sand Artist (1978)
The Haunted Lift (1982)
The Lonely Scarecrow (1983)
To the Ancestral North: Poems for an Autobiography (1983)
The Sense of the Visit (1984)
The House at Night (1988)
Throwback: Poems towards an Autobiography (1988)
No more Hiroshimas: poems and translations (1995)
Strange Attractors (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1995)
A Certain State of Mind – An Anthology of Classic, Modern and Contemporary Japanese Haiku in Translation with Essays and Reviews (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1995)
Broad Daylight: Poems East and West (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1996)
The Patient Obituarist (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1996)
How to Cook Women (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1996)
Tanka Tales (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1996)
Collected Shorter Poems: Omens of Disaster (Vol. 1) and Once and for All (Vol. 2) (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1996)
An Extended Breath (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1996)
Burning Giraffes (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1996)
Measures of Time (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1996)
Pikadon: An Epic Poem (University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1997)
He Dreamed He was a Butterfly (1997)
Marsden Bay (2008)
Home Thoughts (2011)
Plays
True Mystery of the Nativity (first published 1956)
The Prince of Homburg (first published 1959)
The Physicists (first produced 1963, first published 1963)
The Meteor (first produced 1966, first published 1973)
Play Strindberg (first produced 1992)
Two German Drama Classics (Heinrich von Kleist: The Prince of Homburg; Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller: Don Carlos. Transl. James Kirkup. University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg, 1996)
True Misteries and A Chronicle Play of Peterborough Cathedral (1 vol. Transl. James Kirkup. University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg, 1996)
Autobiography
The Only Child: An Autobiography of Infancy (1957)
Sorrows, Passions and Alarms: An Autobiography of Childhood (1959)
What is English Poetry? (1968)[9]
I, of All People: An Autobiography of Youth (1990)
A Poet Could Not But be Gay (1991)
Me All Over (1993)
A Child of the Tyne (incl. The Only Child: An Autobiography of Infancy and Sorrow, Passions and Alarms: An Autobiography of Childhood; University of Salzburg / Poetry Salzburg 1996)
Criticism
Diversions: A Celebration for James Kirkup on His Eightieth Birthday
Description and travel
These horned islands: a journal of Japan (1962)
Tokyo (1966)
Filipinescas Travels in the Philippines Today (1968)
Streets of Asia 585857574(196932312112156)
Japan behind the Fan (197047)
Heaven, Hell and Hara-Kiri (1974)
Translation
"Michel the Giant - An African in Greenland*, by Tété-Michel Kpomassie. From French to English. (1983)
Before You read
Have you ever thought of some people as strange, or other countries as ‘foreign’? We have many ways of thinking of other people as different from ‘us’, as ‘them.’ ‘They’ may belong to a different country, or speak a different language. In this poem, however, the poet reminds us of the many ways in which we are all the same — for we are all human.
Universal brotherhood is the paramount need of the hour. Humans on the earth are alike. They breathe, feel and weep in the same way. Why differentiate on the basis of caste, creed, colour, gender or religion.
NO MEN ARE FOREIGN
Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign;
Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes
Like ours, the land our brothers walk upon
Is earth like his, in which we all shall lie.
They, too, aware of the sun and air and water,
Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starved.
Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read
A labour not different from our own.
Remember they have eyes like ours that wake
Or sleep, and strength that can be won
By love, in every land is common life
That all can recognize and understand.
Let’s remember, whenever we are told
To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.
Remember, we who take arms against each other.
It is the human earth that we defile.
Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence
Of air that is everywhere our own;
Remember, no men are foreign, no countries strange.
JAMES KIRKUP
Glossary
dispossess : dislodge; deprive.
betray : deceive.
condemn : to criticize something or someone strongly.
defile : make dirty; pollute.
outrage the innocence of : violate the purity of.
Understanding the Poem
1. What does the poet mean by ‘uniforms’ in the poem?
The poet uses "uniforms" to represent the external differences or distinctions between people, such as nationality, military affiliation, social status, cultures, or appearances that people may use to categorize and separate each other. The poem suggests that beneath these uniforms, everyone is human with the same basic needs and desires.
2. What according to the poet makes all the people alike on the earth?
The poet suggests that what makes all people alike on Earth is their shared humanity. Regardless of nationality, culture, or background, everyone experiences the same basic needs like sunlight, air, water, and the cycle of life, including birth, life, and death.
In essence, the poem argues that our shared humanity is what truly unites us, regardless of the superficial differences that may divide us.
3. What outrages the innocence and beauty of this earth?
The innocence and beauty of the earth are outraged by the conflicts and wars mentioned in the poem. The "hells of fire and dust" created by wars defile the natural harmony of the earth, disrupting its peace and purity.
OR
The poem criticizes war as the main culprit that outrages the innocence of the earth. Warfare is seen as something that:
•Defiles the earth: It pollutes the air and land.
•Outrages the innocence: It destroys the natural beauty and peace of the earth.
4. What message do you get from the poem?
The message of the poem is one of unity, empathy, and understanding. It encourages us to recognize the commonalities that bind humanity together rather than focusing on superficial differences. The poet emphasizes that no one is truly foreign or strange because we all share the same human experiences and inhabit the same planet. It's a call for compassion and a reminder to reject hatred and division in favor of mutual respect and cooperation.
Learning about the literary devices
1. Do you find any rhyme scheme in the poem?
No, "No Men Are Foreign" does not follow a specific rhyme scheme. It's written in free verse.
2. What is the style used by the poet in the poem?
The poem utilizes free verse. This means it doesn't adhere to a strict metrical pattern (like a set number of syllables per line) or a specific rhyme scheme. Free verse allows the poet to focus on the natural rhythm of the language and convey the message in a more conversational way.
Here are some additional literary devices used in the poem:
Repetition:
The constant repetition of "Remember" emphasizes the importance of the message – to see past differences and recognize our shared humanity.
Metaphor:
"Uniforms" is a metaphor for external differences like nationality or social class.
"War's long winter" is a metaphor for times of hardship and destruction.
Enjambment: Lines often run on to the next one without punctuation, creating a sense of flow and urgency.
Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words can be found in lines like "They, too, aware of sun and air and water.
Discussion
1. What are the things that divide people today? Do you think that negotiations can resolve conflicts? If yes, how? if no, why? What should be done in the latter case?
Today, several factors divide people, including:
1. Ideological Differences: Disagreements about politics, religion, economics, and social values.
2. Social and Cultural Differences: Variances in culture, ethnicity, race, and social class.
3. Economic Inequality: Disparities in wealth and resources.
4. Geopolitical Issues: Disputes over land, resources, and power between nations.
Negotiations can indeed resolve conflicts effectively under certain conditions:
1. Willingness to Compromise: Both parties must be open to giving up something to reach a mutually acceptable solution.
2. Mutual Respect: Respect for each other's perspectives, even when there are disagreements, fosters productive dialogue.
3. Clear Communication: Open, honest, and transparent communication helps prevent misunderstandings and build trust.
However, negotiations may not always succeed due to factors like:
1. Intransigence: If one or both sides are unwilling to compromise, negotiations can stall.
2. Lack of Trust: Deep-seated mistrust can hinder the negotiation process and make agreement difficult.
3. External Pressures: Influence from external forces with vested interests can disrupt negotiations.
In cases where negotiations fail, other approaches may be needed:
1. International Law: Utilizing international legal frameworks and institutions to resolve disputes peacefully.
2. Nonviolent Resistance: Employing nonviolent methods such as protests and boycotts to pressure parties into negotiations.
3. Third-Party Intervention: Involving neutral third parties or peacekeeping forces to facilitate dialogue and create conditions for peace talks.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of negotiations depends on various factors, and if negotiations fail, alternative strategies tailored to the specific conflict should be explored to achieve resolution and promote peace.
2. How do wars affect our lives?
Wars have profound and multifaceted impacts on our lives, extending far beyond the immediate battlefield. Here are some ways in which wars affect us:
1. Loss of Life and Physical Harm: Wars lead to casualties among soldiers and civilians, causing death, injuries, and disabilities. These losses are deeply felt by families and communities.
2. Displacement and Refugee Crisis: Many people are forced to flee their homes due to violence, becoming refugees within their own country or seeking asylum in other nations. This creates humanitarian crises and strains resources in host countries.
3. Mental and Emotional Trauma: Exposure to war violence can result in long-lasting psychological effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues for both combatants and civilians.
4. Social and Economic Disruption: Wars disrupt societies by destroying infrastructure like roads, bridges, hospitals, and schools. This hampers access to basic services and slows down recovery efforts. Economically, wars lead to decreased productivity, trade disruptions, and increased poverty.
5. Environmental Damage: Warfare often causes significant environmental harm, polluting air and water with toxins, explosives, and military waste. This damages ecosystems and can have long-term consequences for biodiversity and human health.
6. Global Consequences: Wars in certain regions can have global repercussions. They can impact global markets, lead to refugee crises that affect multiple countries, and even escalate into broader international conflicts.
7. Interpersonal and Community Effects: War can strain relationships within families and communities, leading to divisions, mistrust, and social instability. Rebuilding trust and social cohesion after a conflict can be challenging and time-consuming.
8. Long-Term Legacy: The effects of war can persist for generations, shaping societal norms, values, and attitudes. Children growing up in conflict zones may experience interrupted education, trauma, and ongoing insecurity.
Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing strategies to prevent conflicts, mitigate their effects, and support affected populations in rebuilding their lives and communities.
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