Wake up, we are almost there.
Personal notes:
This poem was published as part of the collection 'Public time' (2014). It offers an unflinching acknowledgement of the poet's mortality and imminent death as she approaches the last stop of a long 'trip' - the 'trip' being a metaphor for life.
Dimoula uses the second person to command a fellow passenger through the final stages of this 'trip'. However, the reference to the pacemaker at the end of the poem suggests that Dimoula is actually talking to herself (She has mentioned in other poems that she has a pacemaker).
The short sharp sentences in the first three lines suggest a state of alert and emergency as the poet approaches the end of her 'trip'.
At the end of the first stanza, as Dimoula prepares for the trip's last stop, she puts on a perfume called 'LIFE'. The name of the perfume reveals the metaphoric meaning of this 'trip'. Putting the 'LIFE' perfume on is a bittersweet gesture. Perfumes have many pleasant signifies associated with beauty and socialising, but in this case, this pleasure will be, literally, short-lived. The perfume suggests life's flimsy nature.
The sarcastic references in the first and second stanza about vanity and applying eyeliner suggest Dimoula makes fun of her (and our) obsession with appearance.
The third stanza introduces a religious undertow to her 'trip', referring to the final judgment of our sins. The sarcastic tone suggests that Dimoula does not take seriously the possibility of such judgment.
The fourth stanza cements the poem's metaphor that the poet's life is approaching its end ('yourself has expired').
The poem's last line is a final stark acknowledgement: nothing can remain eternal, not even eternity.
Our final stop will be next.
We get off.
Wash your face a little bit
use the pencil to draw your eyes so
that they are clearly understood
put that faint 'LIFE' perfume on.
Don't think no one will be seeing you
vanity will be there to
welcome you.
We are almost there now, get ready
have your sins handy
do you remember their tax number?
you will be asked to verify that
all the above have expired
to verify as well
that yourself has expired
the borders are heavily patrolled here.
Turn your pacemaker to silent.
Once you arrive, you can turn it on again
what did you think
what did you think
eternity beats with a pacemaker as well.
---------------------------------------------
Personal notes:
This poem was published as part of the collection 'Public time' (2014). It offers an unflinching acknowledgement of the poet's mortality and imminent death as she approaches the last stop of a long 'trip' - the 'trip' being a metaphor for life.
Dimoula uses the second person to command a fellow passenger through the final stages of this 'trip'. However, the reference to the pacemaker at the end of the poem suggests that Dimoula is actually talking to herself (She has mentioned in other poems that she has a pacemaker).
The short sharp sentences in the first three lines suggest a state of alert and emergency as the poet approaches the end of her 'trip'.
At the end of the first stanza, as Dimoula prepares for the trip's last stop, she puts on a perfume called 'LIFE'. The name of the perfume reveals the metaphoric meaning of this 'trip'. Putting the 'LIFE' perfume on is a bittersweet gesture. Perfumes have many pleasant signifies associated with beauty and socialising, but in this case, this pleasure will be, literally, short-lived. The perfume suggests life's flimsy nature.
The sarcastic references in the first and second stanza about vanity and applying eyeliner suggest Dimoula makes fun of her (and our) obsession with appearance.
The third stanza introduces a religious undertow to her 'trip', referring to the final judgment of our sins. The sarcastic tone suggests that Dimoula does not take seriously the possibility of such judgment.
The fourth stanza cements the poem's metaphor that the poet's life is approaching its end ('yourself has expired').
The poem's last line is a final stark acknowledgement: nothing can remain eternal, not even eternity.
