<p>Sting sings,"if blood will flow when flesh and steel are one/
Drying in the color of the evening sun." The image being presented is the after math of a battlefield with vauge flashbacks as to what took place. The message in the first sentence is that man's flesh is extremely tangible to metal weaponry but why would mankind want to inflict damage upon itself? A sword being thrust into another person comes to mind as the main concept of war is meeting death by another human being. The title "Fragile" relates to man's mortal body and how easy it is for it to be destroyed. As blood is shed, it falls to the ground and dries over time. No one tampers with it. The aftermath of a battle field is a reminder of what mankind sacrifices for its ideas, hopes, and beliefs. For many, the idea of preserving human life does not compare to the drive to promote and stand behind what they value. Sting continues to sing, saying,"Tomorrows rain will wash the stains away/but something in our minds will always stay."The blood that has been shed is washed away by the rain whether or not or has dried but man's memory of the event is never wiped away. Those who survive never can forget those that were sacrificed for the perseverance of ideals and goals. The fear and suffering of knowing that their lives could have ended at any moment also adds to their ever lasting dread. If one were to look at a battlefield after the swords have stooped slashing, bullets have ceased firing, and canons no longer explode a question might appear. Why? Why should man be turned upon himself? Why is it that the battlefield is similar to the phoniex; it turns to ash only to be reborn a new. Sting sings,"perhaps this final act was meant/ to clench a life time argument/ cause nothing comes from violence/ and nothing ever could." The first sentence is polysemous since it can apply to many things. Perhaps a higher power other than man, decided that blood needed to be shed. To snuff out the flame of an argument, water is not enough. It requires the blood of men young and old, all willing to give their lives for a cause. The issue is that violence has brought nothing and it never will so the commitment is fruitless for both sides. In the end, no one gains anything. Instead, they lose more than they ever imagined. Sting concludes his verse by saying,"for all those born beneath an angry star/ Lest we forget how fragile we are." This verse was sung so that man would not forget all that has been sacrificed and lost. To forget something is to repeat it time and time again. The question is does man want to forget or remember? The chorus sings," On and on the rain will fall/ like tears from the star/ on and on the rain will see/ how fragile we are," meaning mankind will never forget but neither will they cease to shed their own blood. The rain will forever wash away the blood as payment.
As I hear this song, I am reminded of death and how close it is to each and everyone of us. Those that forget this may meet death sooner than expected.
