Poem Review: ‘Death’
Seldom does one get an opportunity to review two poems from the same topic.
I just found my paradise. Two contemporary poems on one of the most difficult-to-understand concepts of all time — Death.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
― Mark TwainDeath is the eternal truth of life. But life is the answer to the question called Death. Therein lies the paradox. These two poems bring out this out beautifully.
I have the rare opportunity to look beyond the old and gold quotes of death, and by extension life, while reading these two poems together. The two poems come from two different perspectives, and thus set the platform for the review.
I have tried to live fully these two poems about death, as the Mark Twain’s above quote goes, and thereby endeavored to write this humble review.
Let’s consume these two poems individually, and then juxtapose them.
Poem 1: ‘ Death I am’ By E. J. Rose
Here goes the poem ‘ Death I am’, by E. J. Rose:
DEATH I AM
I lurk in the shadows, I hide in plain sight
I appear in the brightest of day or the blackest of night
I could come at your lowest moment or your highest serenity
I warn not to look for me, or you might just find me
The number cannot be exchanged, your turn in the queue cannot be changed
Destiny is written, fate is arranged
Between the worlds I walk, then and there, here and now
Time eternal, leaving questions never answered oh why? oh how?
Like the slaughter I wait for the lamb
Death I am
~E.J.R
Commentary of Poem 1:
‘Death’ narrates this poem in first person. The overwhelming feeling is the power and certainty of ‘Death’ over the fickle life of the Beings, all of them ( here addressed as second person,’You’). You would feel less certain about life when you have read the poem.
‘Death’ can come from anywhere, in any form. ‘Death’ says,’ I can lurk in the shadows or hide in plain sight’. So the eternal presence in both the plain and hidden forms creates the first level of uncertainty ( of life, or certainty of ‘Death’).
Then, ‘Death’ can visit you at its hour of choice, and not yours. It can appear in the ‘brightest of day, or blackest of night’. It also does not wait for you either— it can visit you at ‘at your lowest moment or your highest serenity’. You would be just plucked away, without warning. There is no notice of time, or your point in life, high or low. These are the second and third levels of uncertainty.
Already, your stomach must be squirming with unease. The poet does not stop here.
He shouts a warning shot from his quiver of words. In fact, ‘Death’ itself warns you — ‘I warn not to look for me, or you might just find me’. Simple message: Do not play Russian Roulette with ‘Death’.
After the warning, he explains the inevitability of the event.
The number cannot be exchanged, your turn in the queue cannot be changed
Destiny is written, fate is arranged
Your time and turn cannot wait, like the proverbial ‘time and tide’. Time moves on and forward, with you first in life, and without you, in ‘Death’.
You are destined to die, and your fate is, therefore, arranged. The emphatic words of the poet with the use of ‘cannot’ brings out the certainty and inevitability of this event.
Mull this over. It will prepare you for the next lines.
‘Between the worlds I walk, then and there, here and now
Time eternal, leaving questions never answered oh why? oh how?
‘Death’ transcends this world. It opens the portal to another. ‘Death’ can walk across the present and the nether world — you can call them ‘heaven’ or ‘hell’. But the portal will suck you in, without any doubt. The words ‘Then and there’ and ‘here and now’ portray the time and space elements of this portal called ‘Death’.
When the event happens, the questions of life ‘ why, how?’ are not answered. The emoting ‘oh’ brings in a tinge of sarcasm, exposing the fickleness of life’s trivialities.
The most power lines are these, with which the poem ends:
Like the slaughter I wait for the lamb
Death I am
However powerful, high and mighty your life is, you are like a lamb — and I am the butcher, waiting to slaughter. ‘ Death’ puts you at its beck and call. The last line ‘ Death I am’ — the emphatic introduction — leaves the reader, you and me, with a sense of unease, and in turn, less certain about life.
Kudos to the poet for this powerful aftertaste effect.
Poem 2: ‘When Death Beckons’ by Shweta Hitesh Joshi
Here goes the poem:
WHEN DEATH BECKONS
I would be prepared..with the glittering eyes
Like a child ..who waits for mommie outside school
Like a flower ..who waits for the morning to bloom
When death beckons, I would be ready..
Like rainbows after rains
Like smiles after pains.. When death beckons, I would be equipped..
For a fulfilled life that I have lived and my innocence isn’t killed..
When the death beckons, I would but asked for a moment…
To hug my family and thank my friends
Life has been kind and I am loved ..
A little more than I asked and a bit more than I deserved.. I would ask for a moment to tell my princess..
From cocoon to a butterfly..how wonderful is the process..
That butterflies are meant to fly..
Shed no tears …and smile..
That it makes the world beautiful..yours and mine..
When death beckons, I would want it to hug me..and hold my fingers..
Like mom would do ..when I was young and memories still lingers…
Commentary on Poem 2:
The poet has narrated the poem in first person.
Whenever she is facing death, she is prepared to answer with her life. So when the ‘inevitable event’ happens, one is ready and certain, till that point, even though the time and place of the event is uncertain, with a fully lived life and memories.
A sense of confidence pervades the reader after reading this poem.
The poem begins with confidence — ‘ I would be prepared with the glittering eyes’. The twinkle in the poet’s eyes, says she is more than prepared for the ‘inevitable’ event.
Like a child ..who waits for mommie outside school
Like a flower ..who waits for the morning to bloom
The eagerness and the freshness of the poet to face Death, like a child waiting for her mother ( watch the use of the word ‘mommie’, such endearment there), and the flower that is ready for the sunshine to blossom. Positive, confident and fully prepared — that is the way the poet waits for her Death. The first example is human and the second is nature. Please note the pattern that follows.
Like rainbows after rains
Like smiles after pains..
The poet goes on to create a second level of clarity on her position facing Death. Her choice of words — one example from nature (‘ Like rainbow after rains)and another from human life(‘ Like smiles after pains’), establishes the cause ( action of rain or taking pain) and effect ( the beauty of rainbows and smiles). Similarly the action of ‘life’ has the positive effect of ‘Death’.
Where does this confidence stem from? From where does this positivism arise? The next line deals with these questions.
For a fulfilled life that I have lived and my innocence isn’t killed..
If one lives a fulfilling life, and being true and honest ( defining innocent here), one can face Death confidently. Now, how will she meet Death?
I would but asked for a moment…
To hug my family and thank my friends
Life has been kind and I am loved ..
A little more than I asked and a bit more than I deserved..
I remember this quote in silence, as I mull over the above words. Then meet me after reading this quote, dear reader.
“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life.”
― Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent
The poet betters the quote. Starting with family, one final hug. And to all the friends, a final thank you. A final moment of gratitude for all the kindness and love that life has showered on her. The humility of the lines ‘ little more than I asked, and little better than I deserved.’ Such beautiful foundation for that confidence, I must admit.
The poem now becomes a little personal and emotional — with a last message to ‘her princess’.
I would ask for a moment to tell my princess..
From cocoon to a butterfly..how wonderful is the process..
That butterflies are meant to fly..
Shed no tears …and smile..
That it makes the world beautiful..yours and mine..
‘Dear Princess, how beautiful the process of life is. From being sheltered in a cocoon to only emerge as a beautiful butterfly, and then to fly in the open blue sky, is the process of life.’
Note the use of the word ‘ are meant to’ — a strong recommendation to live life the fullest and connecting it to nature, with a must.
‘ Smile, and do not shed tears. The smiles make everybody’s world beautiful, especially, yours and mine’. As I read these lines, the fear of Death disappears, just Life appears and remains in front of our eyes. Does it not?
I would want it to hug me..and hold my fingers..
Like mom would do ..when I was young and memories still lingers…
The end is a little knotty in the stomach, I must admit. The poet wants to hug Death, but like how mothers do for their children. A hint of nostalgia, of the youth of life and motherhood, with her mother, and as a mother, with her child. The poet ends it squeezing the juice out of her life till the last drop.
Kudos to the poet for such a positive and emotive narration from the Dying’s perspective.
Juxtaposition of Poem 1 & 2
I may not get another chance to ride the two rollercoasters of Life and Death simultaneously, as I juxtapose both the poems. Life is to live, and death is inevitable.
The Poets bring out two different narratives of Death and the Dying face to face. Death is confident and certain the first poem, only to met its match in the Dying’s Life in the second poem.
Death is the eternal truth of life. But life is the answer to the question called death. Therein lies the paradox. These two poems bring out this out beautifully.
I would thank both the Poets for bringing these two contemporaneous poems to my table. I am sure that the readers would feel the same. I will end this review with a befitting quote of Oscar Wilde.
“Yes, death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace. You can help me. You can open for me the portals of death’s house, for love is always with you, and love is stronger than death is.”
― Oscar Wilde, The Canterville Ghost
