avatarJ.D. Harms

Summary

"The Vanished" is a poem reflecting on memories and loss, with an underlying struggle to maintain connection with the past amidst the decay of time and the persistent presence of unresolved matters.

Abstract

"The Vanished" is a contemplative poem that delves into the narrator's emotional journey, grappling with the fear of losing cherished memories. The poem opens with an admission of almost forgetting significant moments that once profoundly affected the speaker, specifically those related to the protective embrace of a loved one amidst chaos. As the narrative unfolds, the speaker confronts the stark reality of nature's decline, symbolized by dry bushes in winter, which mirrors the fading vibrancy of past experiences. The poem conveys the daily ritual of mourning, where the speaker's grief is as consistent as the onset of each day, coupled with the burden of unhealed emotional scars. These scars are metaphorically sent to inspect the source of disturbance, hinting at a quest for closure and understanding of what or who haunts the speaker's thoughts at night. The poem concludes with the attribution to J.D. Harms, situating the work in the year 2020.

Opinions

  • The narrator expresses a deep personal connection to past moments of love and protection, suggesting a reverence for relationships that have shaped their identity.
  • There is a palpable sense of sorrow and nostalgia for the lost vitality of once significant memories, as evidenced by the description of the dry, wintry bushes.
  • The act of "crying for the first hour of every day" indicates a profound and ongoing emotional struggle, highlighting the narrator's vulnerability and the intensity of their emotional pain.
  • The poem implies a search for answers and accountability, as the speaker metaphorically dispatches their scars to investigate the source of their disturbance, indicating a need for resolution and peace.
  • The use of natural imagery to reflect the narrator's inner state suggests an interconnectedness between personal experiences and the external world, with both subject to the effects of time and change.

The Vanished

A Poem

Photo by Paul Blenkhorn @SensoryArtHouse on Unsplash

I almost lost the lines that shook me up in the car

I’m trying to remember that time I didn’t forget loving these branches and arms you had lifted out of the wreckage for me

But the bushes are so dry now, so done in for the winter

Crying for the first hour of every day before even getting to send a handful of the impermeable scars to investigate the roof and find out who’s been holding court up there …keeping me up at night

J.D. Harms 2020

Poetry
Image
Disappearance
Change
Illumination
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