[R. S. Gwynn]

"I think Sam thinks the poem has an antisemitic subtext, but ultimately I can't agree. Why should the subjects of money, capitalism, lending, borrowing, interest, etc., immediately suggest that Jews are involved, as opposed to a world full of bankers and capitalists of every religious and ethnic background? In fact, I think the reader who immediately associates this world with Jews is perhaps bringing his or her own pejoratives associations into the poem."

Bob, that Jews have historically been associated with money-lending and that this practice has been a major reason for anti-Semitism can't be denied. I believe it was the Catholic church that proscribed lending money "on use" for Christians. As you say, Graham's being half-Jewish herself makes the poem even more puzzling to me. But we've gone over this before.

I do think that she should bell her cat.