Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Poem of the week

Mephisto2 · 11-18-2003, 06:52 PM

The first time I heard this poem it reminded me of a drowning at a local bathing spot in Dublin. Some poor guy was in difficulties and was hanging on to a rock near the shore during steep swells. He was seen by a number of people, but didn't seem to be panicing so no-one took much notice. Of course the poor guy drowned and there was much soul searching in the local papers as to whether people had lost empathy or the desire to help, perhaps focused on "minding their own business."

It seems to me as if this poem was almost written about that event.

However I think it has deeper meanings. The final stanza does it for me. Could it be a comment on society in general? Or perhaps some poor guy who always felt on the outside? "I was much too far out all my life, and not waving but drowning." Perhaps if we took more notice of people around us, of their 'silent cries for help' we could avoid such tragedies, people going postal, abuse in the families.

Kinda heavy.

I also love the way this poem sounds. The way it rolls off the tongue...

Mr Mephisto

11-18-2003, 06:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	The first time I heard this poem it reminded me of a drowning at a local bathing spot in Dublin. Some poor guy was in difficulties and was hanging on to a rock near the shore during steep swells. He was seen by a number of people, but didn't seem to be panicing so no-one took much notice. Of course the poor guy drowned and there was much soul searching in the local papers as to whether people had lost empathy or the desire to help, perhaps focused on "minding their own business." It seems to me as if this poem was almost written about that event. However I think it has deeper meanings. The final stanza does it for me. Could it be a comment on society in general? Or perhaps some poor guy who always felt on the outside? "I was much too far out all my life, and not waving but drowning." Perhaps if we took more notice of people around us, of their 'silent cries for help' we could avoid such tragedies, people going postal, abuse in the families. Kinda heavy. I also love the way this poem sounds. The way it rolls off the tongue... Mr Mephisto Last edited by Mephisto2; 11-18-2003 at 07:05 PM..