From Long DistanceBy Tony Harrison
Though my mother was already two years dead
Dad kept her slippers warming by the gas,
put hot water bottles her side of the bed
and still went to renew her transport pass.
You couldn't just drop in. You had to phone.
He'd put you off an hour to give him time
to clear away her things and look alone
as though his still raw love were such a crime.
He couldn't risk my blight of disbelief
though sure that very soon he'd hear her key
scrape in the rusted lock and end his grief.
He knew she'd just popped out to get the tea.
I believe life ends with death, and that is all.
You haven't both gone shopping; just the same,
in my new black leather phone book there's your name
and the disconnected number I still call.
20 comments:
Oh my God this is so sad.
There's a song by Katy Perry and the video is very similiar; there's this old man whose wife is long dead and he still pretends she's there with him and he continues his routines as if she's in his life. It's so touching... I hate thinking about death
That was so.. distressing.
My grandmum passed away a few months ago, and my grandfather still keeps her toothbrush in the brush holder in the bathroom. And even her slippers that she used to wear round the house just next to his.
It is so depressing and sad....
Ye, this is pretty upsetting - and weird though. Strange how one can become so connected with another...
...What could you possibly mean Mo!? Aliza's example is really the best: Her grandparents were probably married for 30+ years, after so much time with one person, how would it feel like to not have them around any more? Depressing.
So what do you do? Maintain your routine, hoping that they come back... I cant pinpoint why exactly, but I think I get the general idea.
The Poem itself shows this father doing exactly that, continuing his routine as if the mother was still there, just gone out and coming back soon. And yet this child writing the poemfeels the same way, just maybe a little more subtly.
And btw Sir, you didnt exactly mention what we're supposed to do here. I just went along with everyone else and analyzed it...
You know, weirdly enough, as sad as it is, it's so touching and moving... death is a depressing topic and i hate talking about it but i wonder how people are strong enough to accept it when it happens to their loved ones. I recently lost my uncle and luckily my aunt has taken it well but wouldn't it be heartbreaking to see someone do exactly what the man is this poem is doing? His love has become a blindfold no? Akh sir why'd you have to pick such a sad poem :P
Really touching poem. But I have always felt that the saddest of poems are the best, as feelings and emotions are somehow explained in a very sentimental yet beautiful way (or that may be because I'm generally a very sad person). This poem is no different. Being really attached to a person is an amazing thing. And loosing them is equally dismaying. And this poem describes that sense of loss and disbelief wonderfully. Although my grandfather passed away nearly 3 ago, my grandma still goes and "visits him", as she puts it. And her feeling of uncomfort and worry when she can't get to go to the cemetry just shows how attached we can get to people. Death is really the most horrible truths of all, isn't it?
Wow, a very touching poem. I felt really sad once I read it. It just shows how some human bonds are so strong, and no matter what, those bonds will never ever be broken. For one to love another, he/she does not necessarily have to be physically present. I personally believe that you can love someone as long as he/she lives in your mind and you heart.
Really is heart breaking.
Though sad because the man just wouldn't let go of the memory of the mother or even accept her death, it also is a beacon of hope. For those who say humanity is doomed, such grief can only result from true profound love.
I really was touched by this poem.
This poem made my eyes humid and left a lump in my throat... what a profound poem using such simple words. This poem is part of the AS level Literature curriculum and I plan to analyse the poem in detail next week with them.
Note the last paragraph "you haven't both gone shopping" - the writer lets us know that both his parents are now dead and in the poem he reminisces about his father's reaction to the mother's death.
But the line that really knocked the wind out of me was the last line when he describes how even though he knows both his parents are dead he still dials their number long distance on the phone.
The irony is that the poet's action is ultimately as irrational as the father's - but he does it because it's human nature.
I call my parents long distance and I've memorised their number and if they were to pass away - I can so see myself dialling their number... not because I think they will answer (that'd be impossible) but because... well, just because. Not everything needs an explanation.
Sad though the poem is - it's such a glorious testament to human love and affection.
That was sad and depressing. I agree with Duwane, when your that long with someone, you feel lost without them in your life. Its what Mr. Roberts said, love is one of the greatest emotions you could ever feel.
Wow. Truly an emotional and heartfelt poem. Even though, the actions taken to keep their loved ones with them were a bit extreme, this is in no way unusual.
Because any individual who is fortunate enough to come across another who he/she truly falls in love with, they would do almost or absolutely anything to be with them as they believe their love has no boundaries and can cross any obstacles in their path, even death.
Yeah I loved the last 2 lines...they were the most effective!
WOWWWWW now im sad. nearly in tears!! like sir said that last line blew me away!! parents, they are true blessings, angels in disguise. if i had to loose them my reaction would most probably be as irrational as the writer and his fathers!! death is a real wonder and loosing a loved one is heartbreaking but its amazing how we as impossible as it seems still continue living our lives without them. its a fact of life that people leave us thank God who has given each person the patience to live without their loved ones.
human love and affection especially towards our parents is just unexplainable, when your a child i think the first number you memorise is you mom's cell number or your dads, when you grow up the first 2 numbers i add to my mobile phone book are my mom and dads and their on speed dial aswel, its just instinct to dial their number first, if one day i had to get up dial their number and realise that there would be no answer............ wow can i even explain that feeling but like Mr Roberts said i would still call maybe not hoping for an answer but i would... why??
That was so beautiful. So well written you can feel the pain he’s going through. It was so amazing to see how much some people get attached to each other.
The writer uses words like "warming" and "hot water" to give the reader an idea that he is trying to provide comfort to someone even when that person isnt there, which would only be done for someone really close to him. The use of the word "still" signifies a sense of hope in the person; hope that the lady will still come back, that he will still be able to see her and that even after the lady isnt there anymore, he disagrees with that fact and continues to go on with life as he normally did.The same analysis can be applied for the last line "I still call", which again shows how unbelievable it was for the writer and how difficult it was for him to accept the fact that they no longer existed. The writers use of the words "raw love" highlight the love for the Lady in the Mans Heart, which was still young and fresh just as he fell in love with her when he first saw her. His stanza, He says life ends with death and uses the word "believe" which potrays his seriousness, the idea is further highlighted when he says "and that is all" which shows that nothing else except for death can bring one to the end of his life.He is trying to convey the message that someone living with no objectives still has a life and it has not ended. But the irony is in the next few line, where he says "in my new black leather phone book there's your name and the disconnected number I still call". The irony here is that even though he mentioned that life ends only with death and not when someone who is really attached to you is lost, he says that he has their name in his new diary which he just entered himself knowing that they arent there anymore and still calls them in hope that they might answer some day.
Well, Everybody dies!...EVERYBODY! I could probably be dead before you finish reading this! Such is it's unpredictability.
Sadly for each person who dies, there are atleast 2 people (or more) who mourn for him/her; suffer the deceased's loss more than the deceased themselves.
This poem is no different from what happens almost regularly (Losing of a loved one); but I like the way the poet has captured it.
However, I think this guy was better off than many others, because "It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved aat all".
Agreeing with everybody, this poem is sad and does touch your heart. I wonder if there is anyone who doesn't feel touched by it?
I think everybody takes their parents/loved ones for granted when they are around, its only later on when their gone they really feel their absence.
My mum always tells me, "You'll find out what its like when i'm not around"; and that line doesn't bother me in the least bit for some bizarre reason however I do know that I will come crashing down when my mum is not around :(
I can't imagine calling on the 'disconnected number'. I wonder who would pick up? Sad times :(
Anyway before I drag myself into depression i'm going to stop here :)
that's a really sad poem. :( its so simple but so... sad! i cant even begin to understand what it's like to lose a parent or someone you've been with all your life.
love the end. it really gets you thinking... i mean we all know someday we're all gonna lose the one's we love, yet we dont always show them we love them, and in the end we're left with calling disconnecting telephone lines..
The poem was really well written.I could actually feel the sadness when reading it.It shows how one can get attached to another and when the person leaves how depressing it could get.
Aisha Bashir
10g2
What a wonderful testament to love...this poem bought tears to my eyes...we all know that what is born, has to die...but we still go on as though we have forever...
The poem brings home the point that love is forever, and even though ur loved ones may no longer be with you....their love and care survives after them...
Its just that we forget to celebrate their presence when they are with us more often...and unfortunately are left with dialling their phones after they are gone...
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