Chain Reaction of Death: Peter Meinke’s “Atomic Pantoum”
The pantoum form relies on elements of both imagery and repetition. It originates from Malay, known as pantun, and was filtered through French in the 1800’s into Anglo-American verse (Gotera 254). It is arranged in quatrains, using an abab rhyme scheme with the following quatrain repeating the previous rhyme in a bcbc, cdcd scheme. The final quatrain will repeat the a rhyme scheme from the first quatrain. This allows for the first quatrain to set up the imagery and the final one to deliver the meaning, bringing the poem full circle. In Peter Meinke’s “Atomic Pantoum,” he uses this form to paint the picture of the fear of nuclear weapons and its resolution in fear. It touches on how both the actual atomic bomb is a chain reaction and how the humans using them, instilling fear in humanity, is a chain reaction.
I like the use of repetition in this form, specifically in this poem, as it’s coupled with the use of a “chain reaction.” Meinke explains the process of an atomic bomb, “The neutrons released/ blow open some others/ which release more neutrons, and start this all over” (Meinke 258). The form of the pantoum allows for him to explain the reaction of the bomb, where the split of one neutrons leads to “blowing open” more and more. He begins to bring this full circle by diving into the results of the reaction, “blow up some others/ … with eyes burned to ashes,” (Meinke 258). The effect of the initial atomic sequence leads to destruction of people, specifically burning their eyes. I take this as literally burning by setting the Earth ablaze, as that is what an atomic bomb would do, and also causing people to not be able to see clearly.
The power nations wielding these weapons during the Cold War had was very frightening. The power to wipe out a nation took away these leaders ability to look at the big picture, and what could potentially be lost. Meinke says, “Because the sun’s force/ with plutonium trigger/ has blazed in our minds/ we are dying to use it” (Meinke 258). The sun's force is a reference to the similarity in the chemical reaction in an atomic bomb which became accessible by the mere pull of a trigger. The force that “blazed in our minds” is the fright of what could happen, and how easily everything could be destroyed. The use of the phrase “dying to use it” holds a double meaning. The people with power in hand wanted to be the first to use it before anyone else, to ensure their safety/victory. However, the people on the other side of the bomb would quite literally be dying if it was used.
This idea of being void of judgement in a chain reaction and death, are brought full circle in the final quatrain, “blind to the end/ split up like nuclei/ we sing to Jesus/ in a chain reaction” (Meinke 259). The word “blind” is used to describe the deterioration of the lack of moral judgment in this situation; the “end” being when the first nuclear weapon is deployed, sparking yet another chain reaction of mass destruction. The “split” refers to the public opinion on the use of these weapons, symbolized by the split of a nuclei. Singing to Jesus most likely refers to the final prayers of the people who are facing almost certain death. Meinke says that “we” are singing to Jesus, implying that everyone, everywhere, is facing the impending doom of nuclear warfare.
Gotera, Vince. “The Pantoum’s Postcolonial Pedigree.” An Exaltation of Forms: Contemporary Poets Celebrate the Diversity of Their Art, Edited by Anne Finch and Kathrine Varnes, U. of Michigan Press, 2002, pp. 254–256.
Meinke, Peter. “Atomic Pantoum.” An Exaltation of Forms: Contemporary Poets Celebrate the Diversity of Their Art, Edited by Anne Finch and Kathrine Varnes, U. of Michigan Press, 2002, pp. 258–259.
