avatarJ.D. Harms

Summary

The poem "Obstacles" reflects on the struggles of overcoming personal challenges and the complexities of navigating life's barriers.

Abstract

The poem "Obstacles" delves into the theme of facing adversity, both physical and mental. It paints a picture of a person grappling with hunger and the need for safety, suggesting a deep-seated desire for companionship amidst hardship. The narrative touches on the idea that past experiences may distort our understanding of present challenges, making it difficult to accurately assess and overcome them. The poem conveys a sense of uncertainty and the struggle to find a clear path forward, hinting at the possibility of retreating to familiar ground.

Opinions

  • The poem suggests that past events can skew our perception of current obstacles, leading to misinformation about their nature and depth.
  • There is a sense of physical and emotional exhaustion in the face of life's challenges, as indicated by the "swollen fists" and the "barren mind."
  • The speaker seems to express a longing for connection and respite, hoping to find comfort in the presence of another person.
  • The poem conveys a sense of confusion and indecision about the way forward, acknowledging the difficulty of moving past obstacles.
  • The mention of "turning back the way you came" implies an option to revert to previous states or solutions when faced with insurmountable challenges.

Obstacles

A Poem

Photo by Peter Olexa on Unsplash

Heightened by way of unenlightened misery the hollow look from the shadow of the forehead swollen fists, hard-pressed to get food over the barrier The physical drops into a barren mind hoping to just get safe for a while hoping to sit beside someone for a while All it ever is stays as the willing misinformation from a past? Or a story… Determining nothing barely able to correctly gauge the depth of the obstacles or jump all the smaller blocks in the way And mystified, the way forward not yet calculated there’s a turning back the way you came

J.D. Harms 2020

Poetry
Image
Moving Forward
Fear
Illumination Curated
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