Introduction
Tomas Tranströmer is one of the most enigmatic Swedish poets widely known worldwide. In his work, he raises issues of humanism, morality, family, and deeper topics related to human existence. One example of his deep reflections on the frailty of earthly life is the poem “After Someone’s Death.”
This poem is a collection of sorrowful reflections and memories of the complexity of emotions accompanying losing a loved one. With its evocative imagery and contemplative tone, the poem invites readers to reflect on the consequences of death and how they shape human perception of life. The juxtaposition of light and darkness is a technique that the poet successfully utilizes to compare the two worlds, thereby enhancing the effect on the reader.
“After Someone’s Death” is a poem that raises multiple issues. It evokes a sense of hopelessness in the reader by addressing each individual’s personal experience of loss. Still, metaphors and personification help Tranströmer discuss death sophisticatedly and contribute to describing the complexity of human emotions.
Literary Tools and Details
The poem in question includes various artistic descriptions and techniques that enhance the emotional impact and expand understanding of the tragedy of the topic raised. For instance, the personification of shock as something alive, which a person can physically observe, from the beginning of the poem introduces a corresponding gloomy mood. Tranströmer mentions a shock that “settles in cold droplets on the power lines,” presenting emotion as tangible and visible (line 4). This approach reflects the fact that the poet has already experienced the bitterness of death and knows firsthand what the loss of a loved one is like.
Tranströmer’s use of sensory details throughout the poem adds depth and intensity to the emotions conveyed. For instance, the line “all of the names swallowed up by the cold” creates a haunting image of a persistent reminder of the absence of the deceased (Tranströmer line 8). The ringing phone captures the longing for communication and futile attempts to reach out to the one who will never return. According to O’Neill, the poet, who has experienced difficult periods in his life associated with illness, skillfully uses indirect communication with the reader (879). As a result, the literary techniques are convenient tools to convey a wide and complex range of emotions laid down by the poet.
Memory and Perception
The poem progresses to explore the impact of death on memory. The line “But the shadow often seems more real than the body” suggests that the memory of the departed is fragile, and the poet treads carefully so as not to disturb it (Tranströmer line 10). There is a delicate balance between preserving the past and moving forward. This digression from reality in favor of abstract reasoning and rich memories is a hallmark of Tranströmer’s work. As Uggla argues, the poet uses the concept of decentralization of self to convey complex and multiple meanings better (e12385). This is done to consider familiar phenomena from a new angle and to study life factors that people often do not discuss in more detail.
A similar look is presented in “After Someone’s Death;” Tranströmer draws on memory as a tool of consciousness that allows for reviving the already gone images. This context is conveyed from a gloomy and sad perspective, which reflects the author’s characteristic style. Thus, the phenomenon of memory, one of the poem’s cores, is directly related to the perception of the images offered by Tranströmer.
Light and Darkness
Another notable aspect of the poem is the juxtaposition of light and darkness. Tranströmer mentions a “shimmering comet’s tail” and then describes “groves where last year’s leaves hang on” (lines 2, 5). Such a comparison enhances an emotional effect and serves as an additional method to create mixed feelings about the loss. These perceptions are natural for most people who have experienced what the poet describes.
O’Neill emphasizes that the moods created by Tranströmer are often characteristic of older adults (879). This is natural because, at the dawn of life, a person remembers everything that happened to them, including both bright memories and sad experiences. This idea can be traced in “After Someone’s Death;” the poet compares contrasts and conveys a wide range of feelings. Therefore, the poem in question can be considered one that awakens complex emotions.
Conclusion
Multiple issues in “After Someone’s Death” allow the poet to convey a wide range of emotions to the reader, and metaphors and personification are ways to show death in a sophisticated and unconventional way. The poem helps one to immerse oneself in the concept of grief and better understand the perceptions that any person who has experienced the loss of a loved one feels. Tranströmer’s use of vivid imagery and literary tools, juxtapositions, and introspective language captures the universal experience of mourning while leaving room for individual interpretation and reflection. The idea of memory awakened during reading enhances perception and makes the poem understandable in depth.
Works Cited
O’Neill, Desmond. “The Great Enigma: Tomas Tranströmer and the Magic of Geriatric Medicine.” European Geriatric Medicine, vol. 11, no. 5, 2020, pp. 879-880. Web.
Tranströmer, Tomas. “After Someone’s Death.” Poetry Foundation. Web.
Uggla, Bengt Kristensson. “What Makes Us Human? Exploring the Significance of Ricoeur’s Ethical Configuration of Personhood Between Naturalism and Phenomenology in Health Care.” Nursing Philosophy, vol. 23, no. 3, 2022, p. e12385. Web.