is slowly being shrouded in silver mist.
A frigid gust cleans out my lungs and each flurry falling
contains the crystalline molecules of former acquaintances.
My frozen eyelashes dart toward the hunched figures
stiffly walking past
I am a rock-- an island, though no man is--
And I've built walls. A fortress, deep and mighty
That the silent mounds of snow prove impenetrable.
I've heard the words of love before,
slumbering softly in my memory--
I won't disturb the feelings that have died,
Because-- if I never loved I never would have cried
Crunching underfoot is the snow that was once freshly fallen,
Once pristine. Now sullied and stained.
Me? I have my books and my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor.
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me-- I am a rock
I am an island.
A rock feels no pain
And an island never cries.
But when the moons rise and fall, and the swell of time
Brings back the sun-- those fingertips of gold climbing into my periphery
And the grimy drifts of gray make way for tender green spires
The freedom from pain, the safety of the tomb
The impervious silence and cultivated gloom
Is no longer worthwhile.
No soul should be yearn to be free from pain
'Cause only through hunger we know content.
And only opening up to the bitterness of grief--
of ache, of need, and strife
Will make the moments of joy bring you back to life.
**shout out to my men, Simon and Garfunkel (again) for inspiring me with "I Am A Rock"**
I really enjoyed the hopeful voice of the speaker in this poem. Alliterations such as "flurry falling", "slumbering softly, and "sullied and stained" really add to the poetic language. I also think the dashes between lines add a sense of hesitancy on the speaker's part, as if she's unsure if the barriers she has created for herself are the best way to deal with the world. I like how the speaker constantly returns to the idea of being a rock or an island. I especially love the line "if I never loved I never would have cried." I would suggest changing the last line- "make the moments of joy bring you back to life"- to something less abstract since the rest of the poem provided the readers with concrete object like "books", "poetry", "rocks", and "island." Keep it up with Simon and Garfunkel!
ReplyDeleteThis poem has such a soft tone to it that makes it easy to read. You can really feel the intense emotion expressed by the speaker. I really like the comparisons of a rock and an island. You do a great job of really expanding a song into a deep story. Great Job!
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