With the first phrase of Mark Strand’s poem “Here,” something seems out of place. The sun has “slid behind a cloud” and the air is now “something less than blue.” The poem then goes on to describe a desolate ghost town void of all life. The speaker acts as an observer depicting the scene. A feeling of eerie silence and uneasiness grows as this visitor continues to describe this lifeless place. On a deeper …showed first 75 words of 642 total…

…showed last 75 words of 642 total…read in news headlines and history books. Mark Strand brings us to the forefront of disaster with every detail. Even with the speaker’s emotional detachment, the reality of the scene creeps in, and we may come to the conclusion along with the speaker of “how good it is to be survived.” In the modern world of nuclear weaponry and continuous war, “Here” gives perspective to everyday life and all that is taken for granted.