avatarJ.D. Harms

Summary

"Taking It Back" is a poem that reflects on the struggle to overcome loss and the act of finding hope in the face of a bleak past.

Abstract

The poem "Taking It Back" by J.D. Harms, accompanied by an abstract painting photograph by Adrien Converse, delves into the themes of loss and resilience. It describes the process of confronting grief, symbolized by a bird with a carcass, and the attempt to shape one's narrative beyond the confines of sorrow. The poem speaks to the homelessness of reading and the search for meaning in foresight and narratives, while acknowledging the forgetfulness of a once-grey horizon that has opened like a page, suggesting a new chapter in life. The work emphasizes the human capacity to transform pain into growth and the importance of perspective in personal evolution.

Opinions

  • The poem suggests that personal narratives can be both a shelter and a source of emptiness, indicating a complex relationship with one's own story.
  • There is an underlying tone of hope, as the poem implies that the horizon, once grey, has transformed, symbolizing change and the potential for new beginnings.
  • The author may be commenting on the power of art and creativity (symbolized by the bird with a carcass) to process and transcend loss.
  • The reference to the "page" that opens before the reader could be interpreted as a metaphor for the unfolding of life's journey and the role of literature or art in understanding that journey.

Taking It Back

A Poem

Photo by Adrien Converse on Unsplash

Alighting on this pose like a shadow a bird with a big & bloody carcass in its beak Trying to outdo the shapes of loss by will the reading goes homeless again sheltering foresight & empty narratives but forgetting the once-grey horizon which opened before you like a page

J.D. Harms 2020

Poetry
Image
Grief
Loneliness
Return
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