Dead Cities by Madison Cawein (1902)
The narrative unfolds in a mysterious, ancient city, shrouded in the dense jungles of Central America, where the remnants of a once-great civilization lie hidden. The speaker recounts a journey through this forgotten realm, characterized by its monumental architecture and the weight of its history. The city, unnamed and unrecorded in any chronicles, evokes a sense of timelessness and decay, with its temples and altars bearing witness to rituals long past, including human sacrifices. The landscape is dominated by towering ceiba trees and dense yuccas, which obscure the remnants of the city's grandeur. The speaker reflects on the vibrant life that once thrived there, envisioning a scene where a victim is led through the streets, flanked by priests and nobles, all paying homage to the rising sun. The imagery of temples illuminated by eternal flames paints a picture of a civilization deeply connected to its spiritual beliefs. Despite the speaker's inability to identify the city—whether it be Uxmal, Palenque, or Copan—the sense of its vastness and significance is palpable. The volcanic rock that encases the city adds to its mystique, suggesting a natural fortress that has preserved its secrets over the ages. The speaker engages with the remnants of the past, interpreting hieroglyphs and monolithic sculptures that hint at the fate of the Toltecs, a civilization that has vanished but left behind echoes of its existence. As the speaker navigates this lost world, they encounter a sense of hostility from the environment, embodied by the "mad monkeys" that seem to guard the ruins. This animosity suggests that the spirits of the past are still present, protecting their sacred spaces from intruders. The work captures the tension between the allure of discovery and the reverence for what has been lost, emphasizing the fragility of history and the enduring power of memory. The city stands as a testament to human ambition and the inevitable passage of time, inviting contemplation on the cycles of civilization and the legacies that endure beyond their creators.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1902 · Genre: Poetry, Historical Fiction, Fantasy · 436 words
First lines
Out of it all but this remains: -- I was with one who crossed wide chains Of the Cordilleras, whose peaks Lock in the wilds of Yucatan, Chiapas and Honduras. Weeks -- And then a city that no man Had ever seen; so dim and old, No chronicle has ever told The history of men who piled Its temples and huge teocallis Among mimosa-blooming valleys; Or how its altars were defiled With human blood; whose idols there With eyes of stone still stand and stare.
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Dead Cities is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1902 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Madison Cawein
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery
- Length: 436 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and imagery to convey themes.
- Historical Fiction — The poem references ancient civilizations and their ruins, exploring themes of history and loss.
- Fantasy — The depiction of lost cities and mythical elements suggests a fantastical interpretation of history.
- Adventure — The journey through ancient landscapes and exploration of forgotten cities implies an adventurous narrative.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Symbolism · Imagery · Nature · Death · Loss · Grief · Mortality · Existentialism · Philosophy · Psychological Insight