Cult Of Literature

Moon

In this poem titled 'Moon', the poet has described the loss of her mother and by doing such she gave us the impression that the moon is someone or something that meant a lot to her. The poet does this by using imagery of the moonlight and the actions of the moon. The structure of this poem is unorganised and the poem's tenses are not fixed which indicates her outpour of emotions right after inspiration hit her. The poem is in a free form structure as there is a possibility it has been written in a modernised world. It is a relatively long poem which could perhaps tell us there is an emphasis on a long wait for something or someone, perhaps for the moon to come into contact with her. This poem has been written in first person indicating it is a personal experience for the poet. The overall theme is nature in the night sky for example the moon and stars.

'Last night, when... Oblong of light,' the first three lines of the first stanza described the moonlight shining into the poet's room. The fact the poet described the room she was in as 'my attic room' could be her intention to evoke a sense of loneliness or gloominess as attics are generally dark and dusty. The phrase 'oblong of light' is just used to describe the shape of the moonlight. It is also used to tell us it was the only thing which illuminated the room which could indicate the poet telling us her mother was what brought life to the household, but now without her presence, all life form from all aspects are gone. 'I sensed she'd come to commiserate', the 'she' here refers to her mother. This line tells us the poet saw her mother coming to her in the form of moonlight to feel sorry for her as she has left her lonely.

'It was August... with a small valise', the poet has used a specific month, August, in this case, to tell us a memorable event has taken place on such a date, an event which could be good or bad. 'small valise of darkness', this indicates the baggage she carries, it has been complemented with the word 'darkness' which tells us it is a dreaded baggage. There was an enjambment at 'of darkness' which emphasises on the word 'darkness'. The last two lines 'and the first few stars returning to the northern sky,' have been used to tell us the return of her mother brought back memories.

'and my room, it seemed, had missed her', the enjambment at 'had missed her' emphasised on how much she misses the feeling of motherly love embracing her. This line also tells us the room misses the touch of her mother. 'She...life:' these five lines are used to describe the moonlight shining into the room, giving objects life by giving them actions, this refers to an emphasis on her mother bringing life into the household as when she left, everything felt dull and objects remained insignificant. When her presence was felt once more, the objects sensed it and came alive by which means the objects were acknowledged once again. 'string of beads in their green bowl gleamed,' the moonlight acknowledges the presence of the beads and shone upon it. The poet used colours to turn the monochrome scene to a vibrant scene in which colours existed.

'the paper-crowded desk; the books, too, appear inclined' this emphasises the effect on the poet's surroundings when her mother is gone. When her mother is gone everything remains messy and untouched. 'to open and confess' this refers to her emotions being expressed. 'Being... intentions' this tells us she thinks her mother has come back and visited her in the form of moonlight having some intentions.

'I waited...wall' this stanza talks about the poet's observations of her mother's presence personified by moonlight. The next stanza is the same before the poet stopped observing as she had enough 'then glide...before I'd had enough.'. She then proceeded to talk to the moon, her mother, 'moon...scarred now.' there was probably a problem going on between them before her mother left, her mother left with situations unresolved and now they're both wounded and hurt.

The last stanza was the poet expressing her thoughts towards her mother and her point of view of situations such as she is hurt as her mother does not express love openly towards her. In the poet's perspective, even until death her mother never said 'I love you'.