The need to let go of it. June 1, 2012

 One short poem she posted this week is so convoluted, it is extremely difficult to dissect, although it continues to follow a theme established in earlier poems, about being drained from within.

Told in a third person objective point of view, the poem’s speaker is observing from without the main character standing near the sea.

She is being held there by some force, and looks out into the dark, aware of something that is waiting,

“harnessing all its strength,” but it is strength garnered from within in, drained from her, again presenting the motif of something stealing from her, and using this stolen power, knowledge or whatever against her, and her response of defense is to leave it for the waves.

In some ways, this force is like a third character in a quiet drama which the poem describes as “it,” a stealth character feeding off the main character like a parasite.

She is conscious of it, and by implication, sees it as a threat, something using her own life force against her, perhaps to hurt her.

The implication from the opening lines is that she is held there by this force against her will, and that her defense against it is to relinquish it to the sea.

This suggests that there is a relationship between her and it, over which she has some control. While the force, possibly a particular person, is using this knowledge and power against her, she has the ability to free herself by relinquishing her hold on this force.

The poem comes off as a kind of ritual, ridding herself of the very thing that feeds on her, even though she seems reluctant to abandon it, but must if she is ever going to regain her strength.

While the poem is largely free verse, it has several internal rhymes that pull it together, especially in the opening where she uses hair, there and everywhere.

The “it” might be a person, even meant to be me, but it is symbolic of something more, something that controls her, something that touches her physically and emotionally, and yet leaves her struggling in the dark, and draws its power from her. And though reluctant to let it go (as it seems) she must if she is going to survive.

My interpretation – which may be very wrong – is that this is about us, and how she still has some feelings, but believes that I am growing strong at her expense, and if she needs to let go of me or the relationship or else cease to exist herself.

 

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