Song- George Szirtes

for Helen Suzman

Nothing happens until something does.

Everything remains just as it was
And all you hear is the distant buzz
Of nothing happening until something does.

A lot of small hands in a monstrous hall

can make the air vibrate
and even shake the wall;
a voice can break a plate
or glass, and one pale feather tip
the balance on a sinking ship.
hung- violent image- violent racism-
It’s the very same tune that has been sung
time and again by those
repetition, rhyme scheme, juxtaposition,
power of revolution whose heavy fate has hung contrasting diction, run on lines, repe of
+ on the weight that they oppose, sounds. imagery- visual imagery, auditory
ideologies of Helen Suzman the weight by which are crushedimagery etc
the broken voices of the hushed.

But give certain people a place to stand contrasting word. Plosive P- road to
metaphor of balance. a lever, a fulcrum, a weight, justice not easy. run on line-
criticism on power disparity+ continuous effort.
however small the hand
Asyndeton! Too many similar sounds h sound (aspirant) sigh of
the object however great,
The fourth verse presents a run on lines relief+contrasting images small + great. already
it is possible to prove
new allusion to Greek discussed
mathematician Archimedes, that even Earth may be made to move.
change is inevitable
soft consonance + assonance euphony. may
who famously said, “give made move prove-hope
me a place to stand, and a Nothing happens until something does,
lever long enough, and I will and hands, however small,
move the world.”In this fill the air so the buzz extended metaphor.
case, the words lever, of the broken fills the hall
fulcrum, a place to stand
as levers and fulcrums shift
and the Earth can be made
to move all echo and the heart, like a weight, begins to lift.
Archimedes’ well-known
proclamation. Where he Nothing happens until something does.
was discussing the use of Everything remains just as it was
physical tools to multiply the And all you can hear is the distant buzz
effect of physical effort, Of nothing happening. Then something does.
Szirtes interprets his words
more figuratively to suggest
how embracing a certain
mindset, or taking up a
smart position, can help us
overcome obstacles no
matter how imposing they
might seem.
‘Song’ is a poem dedicated to Helen Suzman who was a South African activist against apartheid and a politician. The
poem is about the changes that can be brought about if people are united to fight for what is right. This poem-initiated
movements in South Africa.

The poet says that nothing happens unless someone takes an initiative to do it. It is the same old buzz when something
new does not happen. He believes that many small hands can vibrate the wall of a huge hall if they decide to do so. A voice
can break a plate or glass and one small light feather can tip the balance of a sinking ship. Changes don’t happen when
people keep complaining about the problems. For years together the same song of problems has been sung – the song
about the weight of the problem and how they will be crushed or hushed if they raise their voices. So the song is sung and
nothing is done.

However there are certain people who stand to oppose the weight and oppression however strong it might be. They might
be a small person and the problem they are facing might be big but they prove that they can face the problem and even find
a way out. The small hand can even move the earth. So when there is someone to prove that world can change with small
hands the air is abuzz with the news of the changes and all rejoice at the problems being solved. He concludes the poem
stating that nothing happens until someone takes the initiative to bring the changes in the world.

Important Themes

This poem is dedicated to the spirit of ‘never-say-die’ of Helen Suzman. It is also about standing in unity and helping to
achieve a goal. To fight for the right even ‘small’ hands are enough. There should be someone to take the lead and when
others join together even the ‘Earth may be made to move.’ When people work together, without talking about the age-old
problems, their future is made. ‘Song’ also looks at the power play of the rich and powerful. The people are crushed under
the weight of the powerful.

Analysis

People are compelled to stay ‘hushed’ against the people they want to oppose. Because if they do try to raise their voices,
their voices are ‘broken’ meaning they are tortured. Citing this as a reason, no one comes forward to change the scenario.
But if there is one who is bold enough for that and if people support that person then anything is possible.

The tone of the poem is inspiring and hopeful. It states clearly that nothing happens if people stay quiet or bear the
atrocities quietly. The poem does not talk of the broken voices but there is a positive tone saying stand together and it can
be done. It enthuses people to stand up for their rights and for anything that they believe in. It is about taking up leadership
and working together to fight for what is right.

‘Song’ has many poignant lines and it is needed as the theme of the poem is something which has depth and power. The
most eye-catching line is ‘the broken voices of the hushed’. This line forms the core of the poem stating that the spirits of
the people are taken away and they are forced to stay ‘hushed’. The beauty of the poem is that it does not end in that note
but in a very positive note of the possibility to achieve the unachievable when humanity stands together for their rights.

Structure & Poetic Devices

The poem is written like a song as there are is a rhythm all through. It is a free verse with a lyrical tone. The first and the last
stanza have four lines whiles the other four stanzas has six lines. The rhyme scheme for the first and the last stanza is
ABBA. The rhyme that can be assigned the rest of the stanzas is ABABCC. The first and the last stanzas act as chorus as
they are almost the same. The word ‘till’ in the first stanza is replaced with ‘then’ in the last stanza. With this small change
the poem ends on a hopeful note. The first two and the last two stanzas are written in italics. The first two stating the issue
and the last two gives a solution and hope. When it is written like a song it can reach more people.

The enjambment used in the last line of is very effectively used. This little change represents the little change can create a
huge impact. It might also represent the fact that the problems the past will stop only if people stand together and make a
change. Juxtaposition is also used where two opposite words are used as adjectives to highlight the depth of the issue. The
words ‘small hands’ and it is immediately followed by the words ‘monstrous hall’. The word ‘small’ indicates the
powerlessness of the people against the ‘monstrous’, the enormity of the problem.
(source: Coursehero)