1. Theme: what themes do you notice in the poem? Explain how the themes contribute to your understanding of the poem
I notice that the theme of death is present in the poem. More specifically how death is inevitable and that it can occur at any moment in our lives. As said in the poem; “where death is waiting, dressed like an admiral” signifies how death is metaphorically an “admiral” all dressed up and ready to take us from this world. This quote further helped me understand the poem because an admiral is the highest rank in the navy and they have power over everyone in the navy as they can command any orders. Similarly, death is like the highest command to all humans because death ends our lives and discharges us from the world.
2. Do you agree or disagree with the poem? Explain your thinking.
I agree with the poem because I believe that death is unavoidable and we will never know when we will be faced with it. Hence, we must enjoy every single moment that life has to offer to us and we must not live our lives in regret knowing that the fear of death results in us holding back. We must live in the present and not focus on the future of our lives because then we will fail to cherish the moments that we experience in the present.
3. Jot down and respond to a favourite line or favourite image. What specifically do you like about the poem? Be specific, pay attention to beautiful words, phrases and language.
My favourite line from the poem is “death is inside the bones, like a barking where there are no dogs, coming out from bells somewhere, from graves somewhere, growing in the damp air like tears of rain.” This line is significant because it showcases how death is spontaneous and that it can occur at any time. The line “death is inside the bones” demonstrates how death is evident in everyone because we cannot live forever and that one day we have to leave this earth. The line “coming out from bells somewhere” reveals how death could occur anywhere and at any time in our lives. That is why we must cherish every moment in our lives and live it to the fullest.
4. What is this poem saying? What ideas is the poem conveying?
The poem is conveying the idea that death is evident in life and that it is unavoidable. Therefore, we must not fear death and instead be prepared for it as it can occur anytime. Rather than worrying about death, we must enjoy our lives to the fullest and make every moment count. We must not let death restrain us from enjoying and being successful in our lives. Those who fear death will always be afraid of death throughout their lives and they will never really live their lives to their full potential. However, those who embrace death and are not afraid of the circumstances that it has to offer, often live their lives to their full potential and they become successful.
5. Personal connections: is there any way in which you relate to anything in the poem?
I can relate to this poem because I understand how the thought of death often puts fear into people. When I was young, I was scared at the thought of death because I didn’t know when it would happen or what would happen after death. As a result, I was always careful with everything that I did and I always had fears of going on roller coasters, crossing the road, riding bicycles, and doing many other risky things. I realized that I was holding back and stopped enjoying my life because I feared death. I later accepted that death was evident in everyone’s life as it was never a matter of if but, a matter of when it would occur. In addition, in the past years, I heard stories of how some people in relation to me lost their lives out of nowhere. Some people were just living an ordinary life and all of the sudden they died suddenly which put my life in perspective. I learned that we must not take life for granted and instead we must enjoy it by being grateful for what we have in our lives. We must also live life to the fullest but, be cautious with how we live it because as said in the poem, “Death arrives among all that sound”.
