someplace else

Summary

The poem "someplace else" reflects on life in quarantine through the dream of a woman seeking escape in a surreal landscape, only to confront the reality of the outside world.

Abstract

Set in a bedroom during quarantine, the poem describes a woman's dream of a picturesque land filled with masquerades and dancers. Despite the idyllic setting, the characters in her dream appear to be in a state of melancholy, singing songs of love and life in a minor key. As the dream progresses, the mood shifts with the gloomy moon and weeping clouds, culminating in the woman waking up to a new reality. She draws the curtains to find people strolling in masks and gloves, leading her to ponder whether they share her longing to be somewhere else. The poem captures the essence of quarantine life, where dreams and reality blur, and the search for happiness is tinged with a sense of displacement.

Opinions

The dreamlike setting in the poem is juxtaposed with a sense of underlying sadness, suggesting that even idealized scenarios cannot fully mask the dreamer's longing.
The melancholic hymns in a minor key imply a disbelief in true happiness, reflecting a poignant commentary on the human condition during isolation.
The transition from dream to reality, marked by the woman's abrupt awakening, symbolizes the harsh return to the starkness of quarantine life.
The observation of passersby in protective gear hints at a shared experience of living through a pandemic, where the pursuit of happiness is overshadowed by the collective desire to escape the current situation.

A dreamy poem about life in quarantine.

She is in her bedroom, alone with the curtains drawn. her dream is set in a land of endless rolling hills. the setting sun cast an orange hue among the tall wheat where masquerades & dancers sauntered, playing the flute & twirling, almost melancholy beneath their immaculate guises.

they seemed not to believe in their own happiness. their hymns were sung in a minor key — songs of victorious love & of a pleasant life. one by one, their notes soared overhead & lost their meaning as they drifted amongst the stars.

the moon was gloomy & the birds stopped flying. the clouds sobbed with such a force that our once restless sleeper jumped up & slammed her head on the windowsill.

cracked like an eggshell, she drew the curtain to let in the light, wanting to check if she was runny. glancing through the window, she watched passersby taking an afternoon stroll while wearing white masquerades & latex gloves. she wondered if they were happy or if they were like her — attempting to be someplace else.

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Introducing: Alexis Zarco

Stranger, we haven’t met yet, but I hope we can be good friends.