Survivors Said

This new collection of short stories by Matt Pavelich puzzles me.  Well, just the title.  The stories are remarkably fresh and direct.  One paragraph and you know where you are.  You can feel the surroundings.  But this funny title?  I couldn't fathom it until today when I read this poem:

 

Since the dead are not returning,

What are the survivors to understand?

 

Since for the dead there is no way to lament,

About whom and what should the survivors lament?

 

Since those who died cannot but keep silent,

Should the survivors do the same?

 

It's called "Glory of a Poet" by Jean Tardieu.

Now I have an idea of what "Survivors Said" may mean. 

Either I have a new understanding or I am doubly confused.