September 1, 1939 by W. H Auden

I had to read the poem twice because the first Redding helps me to have a general view of what the poem is about. In order to have a clearer understanding it was required a second reading.
The poem is very interesting from the beginning until the end and it points out one of the most difficult historical periods lived in 1939.

The way the author describes what happened in that period is really catchy. “… a low dishonest decade: waves of anger and fear…” this quote shows that it is a vulnerable period in which the main element is death. In my opinion, the poem is a criticism to religion, patriotism and progress. They are the central concepts which caused that men were left alone. You may ask why and the answer is because reality is not being shown as it is. On the contrary, reality is hidden behind the idea of a collective man.



Regarding to my point of view there is a bad understanding of religion which is the main factor that influences the way people live and act. It is believed that the idea of psychopathic god is because there is an intangible force which allows wars. . He also mentions that religion has controlled the way we see God and the way children have learnt about it. That is why they see God as a inconsequent force.
My doubt is why the author is in opposition to the bible if then he states that “we must love one another or die”. This sort of contradiction makes me fell a little bit confused; in spite of this I enjoyed the reading.