Karl Shapiro's "Auto Wreck"

The speaker in Karl Shapiros Auto Wreck recounts the activities and strange emotions involved as he and others observe the aftermath of an auto crash.

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First Movement: Its quick soft silver bell beating, beating

The speaker begins by describing the arrival of an ambulance: with [i]ts quick soft silver bell beating, beating, the vehicle arrives at top speed and seems to be floating down / Past beacons and illuminated clocks. Somewhat like a bird, it wings in a heavy curve as it maneuvers into the crowd of people who have gathered to observe the activity surrounding the crash. Some people were there, perhaps to help, others out of morbid curiosity.

Second Movement: The doors leap open, emptying light

After the ambulance has come to a halt, the doors leap open, emptying light. The light inside the vehicle seems to pour out like water, as the paramedics bring out the stretchers, onto which they quickly place the mangled bodies of the crash victims. The medical workers stowed the crash victims into the little hospital. Then the sound of the bell resumes as the vehicle leaves to take the injured to the real hospital.

Third Movement: And the ambulance with its terrible cargo

The ambulance now contains its terrible cargo, and as it moves away from the crowd, it seems to be rocking, slightly rocking, as the doors are closed, seemingly an afterthought.

The speaker then shifts his focus to the crowd that has gathered, as he speculates about the emotions the people must be experiencing. He exaggerates a bit, we are deranged, but they are, no doubt, disturbed as they are walking among the cops.

The cops are cleaning up the disarray left by the wreck: they sweep glass, write down notes; one of the cops washes the ponds of blood / Into the street and gutter. One cop places lanterns on the wrecks that cling, / Empty husks of locusts, to iron poles. The reader then realizes that the auto has crashed into a pole.

Fourth Movement: Our throats were tight as tourniquets

The speaker then continues to describe the feelings of the observers. He recounts that their throats were tight as tourniquets / Our feet were bound with splints. He uses medical metaphors to show how the observers are intensely identifying with the crash victims. The crowd of observers is like convalescents intimate and gauche.

They can speak only in clichs through sickly smiles. They make remarks that seem out of place, because there is nothing original to be thought about such a distressing and startling occurrence. Some make jokes that are dark and careless, while others offer a thought that can only be labeled a banal resolution.

Fifth Movement: The traffic moves around with care

Other traffic is now moving past the wreck, but the curious crowd cannot seem to leave. These onlookers remain, touching a wound / That opens to our richest horror. They begin to speculate about who might die and wonder who caused the accident. Are there innocent or guilty parties involved here?

Sixth Movement: For death in war is done by hands

The speaker philosophically summarizes possibilities that involve death. This kind of death by car crash seems so senseless and unmotivated, not like war which is done by hands or other deaths that have various causes. The reason for this kind of death seems to be hiding somewhere in the occult mind, and finding out that reason is like trying to understand a denouement / Across the expedient and wicked stone. While one may describe the scene, the power to understand remains hidden.

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