That Sanity be Kept by Dylan Thomas
The narrative revolves around a protagonist who struggles to maintain his grip on reality amidst the chaos of war and societal upheaval. His mental state deteriorates as he grapples with the consequences of violence and the erosion of moral values. The story explores themes of disillusionment, despair, and the disintegration of social norms.
By Dylan Thomas · First published 1944 · Genre: Poetry, Modernist, Philosophical · 225 words
First lines
That sanity be kept I sit at open windows, Regard the sky, make unobtrusive comment on the moon, Sit at open windows in my shirt, And let the traffic pass, the signals shine,
The engines run, the brass bands keep in tune, For sanity must be preserved.
Thinking of death, I sit and watch the park Where children play in all their innocence, And matrons, on the littered grass,
Absorb the daily sun.
What this Textopian page supports
That Sanity be Kept is listed on Textopian as a poem by Dylan Thomas, dated 1944 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Dylan Thomas
- Date: 1944 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Modernist, Philosophical, Observational
- Length: 225 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing poetic devices such as imagery, metaphor, and rhythm.
- Modernist — The themes of existential reflection and the mundane aspects of life align with Modernist literature.
- Philosophical — The contemplation of sanity, death, and human behavior suggests a philosophical exploration.
- Observational — The narrative focuses on detailed observations of everyday life and surroundings.
Tags
Poetry · Collection · Verse · Narrative · Stream-of-consciousness · Modernist · Experimental · Autobiographical · Confessional · Emotional · Introspective · Psychological