Lament By Thom Gunn

 

"Your dying was a difficult enterprise."
     The poem starts off with a nameless victim stating how the death of something was a difficult challenge that they encountered. This line proves that there is a challenge ahead of them.

"In hope still, courteous still, but tired and thin,   

You tried to stay the man that you had been"

This quote proves that although this "man" encountered a challenge, he still would still like to be the same man that he has always been. Although he may have encountered a challenge, he would like to be treated the same and act the same as if "nothing" has happened.

 

"No respite followed: though the nightmare ceased,   

Your cough grew thick and rich, its strength increased."

This was seen as a nightmare because of the sickness. The sickness is developing and his cough is growing thicker, more in strength.

 

"We talked between our sleeping bags, below

A molten field of stars five years ago:

I was so tickled by your mind’s light touch

I couldn’t sleep, you made me laugh too much"

 

"You never thought your body was attractive,   

Though others did, and yet you trusted it   

And must have loved its fickleness a bit"

He always viewed himself as unattractive; even though other did, he became untrustworthy. The attention was nice, but if they were accepting of the complement, then they would not longer receive it.

 

Comments...