Right and Left.

D

DeliciouslyBETH

New member
So I've been working on this for ages and have never been able to get it quite right. I also couldn't decide what direction I wanted the crux of it to go in, so I split it into two poems which should be read together. I'll leave it to you guys to see if you get the meaning out of them, but it's something I haven't tried before. First piece I've done since I did my poetry module, might stick a couple of them up soon.

I also have had to post it as a picture picture I can't figure out how to do odd spacing with this damn forum. Anyways.

(Also, I used to post in here a lot but I changed my username a while ago from Herbert to Aklerc)

rightandleft.jpg
 
I read this over twice and on the second time through I kinda connected to the feeling behind the piece. It leaves me with a feeling that we have lost our way as adults; lost the sense of living just to live (as a child might) and have begun to live in a way that is disconnected with what is going on around us. I feel like the progression of the two poems is done quite well, "left" certainly needing "right" to be fully understood. The scenes intertwine and feed off each other, which strengthens the poem a lot. I like how it goes from very broad to very personal, the whole thing ending in some kind of suicide of the character in a very imagery oriented fashion. Overall a great piece, one of the better ones I've read on here.
 
It seems very cathartic, Alex; I get the feeling that it was incidental and only subconciously known. I'm referencing that it's the change in your life and lifestyle. Where both parties: The city as a cultural hegemony's expectations of an individual and an individual's expectations of the city's cultural hegemony, are blinded by assumptions. The symbiotic tether is choked by silence, implied or an unwillingness to communicate.

Very nicely done, sir.
 
Thanks for the comments guys, I'm quite amused by how you've both read it. I mean it's a bit abstract so it doesn't surprise [or bother] me that the intended meaning isn't picked up on. I guess it's a bit Songs of Innocence/Experience-y. The titles 'Right' and 'Left' have two meanings: they represent a metaphorical split in the road, i.e. the choices you can make when presented with a situation. 'Right' can also be understood to be as the morally right choice to make and 'Left' as the act of leaving, through fear or selfishness or otherwise. The first is the adult, making the choice to do something against his will, but he does it because he knows it's right. The second is what he really wants to do - revert to his childhood and just escape from the harsh reality and obligations of the adult world and the human condition.

tl;dr - it's mourning the necessary loss of childhood.

However, I do enjoy mixed interpretations of it! Love a bit of reader versatility.
 
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