the furthest distances ive travelled Flashcards
Like many folk, when first I saddled a rucksack,
feeling its weight on my back –
the way my spine
curved under it like a meridian –
heavy beg could be a symbol of her sdult self showing the baggage of adulthood compared to childhood
use of dash suggests shes almost become one with the bag
finds comfort and stability from this weight
like a meridian- similie of meridian is significant as it is a link to the line that splits earth, much likes her constantly split apart life and her sense of isolation sometimes
I thought: Yes. This is how
to live. On the beaten track, the sherpa pass, between Krakow
and Zagreb, or the Siberian white
cells of scattered airports;
i thought- use of past tense suggests change of opinion later on
beaten track-common phrase, suggests experience isnt unique, ironic
sherpa pass- suggests a mountanous symbol, mountains of emtional challenges to travel
cells of scattered airports- emphaises loneliness
siberia expansiveness has connotations of isolation
it came clear as over a tannoy
that in restlessness, in anony
mity:
was some kind of destiny.
tannoy- big speaker of public announcement, ironic as they arent clear. could also be interpreted that she allowed a loud speaker (others) to define herself
annoyy- somewhat regular rhyme scheme shows there was a structure to her life despite yearning for spontaneity
enjambement in anonymity is unusual , shows the confusion of her experiences- element of spiritual reflection, like a tannoy giving her a revelation about herself
So whether it was the scare stories about Larium
– the threats of delirium
and baldness – that lead me, not to a Western Union
wiring money with six words of Lithuanian,
larium= antimalarial drug- danger and consequences would be delirium (psychosis) and baldness (loss of youth). shows she was aware of the risks but naive
delerium- maybe told she was crazy for leaving this life and throwing away youth
western union- desire to not conform to normality. doesnt use respected establishments. money union = money transfer service for those who do not have a proper bank account in use. sense of adventure by using the old way of wiring money
aix words of Lithuanian- she doesnt knowlithuanian, sgows she is relying on fate
but to this post office with a handful of bills
or a giro; and why, if I’m stuffing smalls
hastily into a holdall, I am less likely
to be catching a greyhound from Madison to Milwaukee
post office- was instead led to a post office, the poems transition shows a more realistic outlook on life
giro- register as unemployed to get unemployment benefits
holdall- act of frantically stuffing money into small back highlights urgency and desperation in situations
i am less likely to be catching a greyhound..- her determination to divert normality from her life slowly withers , has to face laundry and real life problems. her life lacks a clear purpose.
than to be doing some overdue laundry
is really beyond me.
However,
when, during routine evictions, I discover
during routine evictions- lack of permenance to her life shows lack of stability and regret
alien pants, cinema stubs, the throwaway
comment – on a post–it – or a tiny stowaway
pressed flower amid bottom drawers,
I know these are my souvenirs
unrecognisable objects and trinkets from her travels become her memories
simplicity of memories yet they are her identity
and, from these crushed valentines, this unravelled
sports sock, that the furthest distances I’ve travelled
have been those between people. And what survives
of holidaying briefly in their lives.
crushed valentines- indicative of romances in spontaneous nature during her travels
ive travelled- juxtaposition between actual travel and spiritual travel
been thos between people- emotional connections are the most impactful and valuable. shows desire for community of genuine relationships over anything else,
structure
-free verse (shows lack of stability, tries to evoke a sense of spontaneity)
-half rhymes show burts of brief stability before the speaker moves on. they also subvert xpectations giving the feeling that the poem isnt actually entirely full
