'A Quick One Before I Go' by David Lehman
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There comes a time in every man's life
when he thinks: I have never had a single
original thought in my life
including this one & therefore I shall
eliminate all ideas from my poems
which shall consist of cats, rice, rain
baseball cards, fire escapes, hanging plants
red brick houses where I shall give up booze
and organized religion even if it means
despair is a logical possibility that can't
be disproved I shall concentrate on the five
senses and what they half perceive and half
create, the green street signs with white
letters on them the body next to mine
asleep while I think these thoughts
that I want to eliminate like nostalgia
0 was there ever a man who felt as I do
like a pronoun out of step with all the other
floating signifiers no things but in words
an orange T-shirt a lime green awning
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Quick One Before I Go: A Masterpiece in Disguise
As I read David Lehman's "A Quick One Before I Go", I couldn't help but be awed by the masterful way in which he weaves together themes of love, mortality, and the fleeting nature of life. At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple, straightforward account of a man's last moments before his death. But as I delved deeper into its meaning, I discovered a complex web of emotions and ideas that left me reeling.
The Power of Love
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which Lehman portrays the power of love in the face of death. The speaker of the poem is clearly deeply in love with the woman he addresses, and he spends his last moments reflecting on her beauty and the happiness she has brought him. The line "I love you more than ever now that the past is gone" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the speaker's love has only grown stronger in the face of his impending death.
But what is it about love that makes it such a powerful force in the face of mortality? Perhaps it is the way in which it allows us to transcend the boundaries of our individual selves and connect with something greater than ourselves. In loving another person, we become part of something larger than ourselves, something that endures beyond our own lives. This idea is beautifully captured in the final lines of the poem, in which the speaker declares, "I'll be thinking of you, and hoping that you'll be happy / As you sail down the Rio Grande / And out to the sea". Even in death, the speaker's love for the woman he addresses persists, connecting him to her and to the wider world in a way that transcends the limitations of his physical body.
The Fleeting Nature of Life
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of the fleeting nature of life. The poem is full of references to time and to the transience of human existence. The speaker reflects on the passage of time, noting that "years slide by like running children / one season following another / laden with happiness and tears". He also speaks of the impermanence of human life, noting that "we're just passing through / doing time on this earth, hoping / we've left a mark, but knowing / there's no guarantee."
These reflections on the fleeting nature of life give the poem a sense of urgency and poignancy. The speaker is acutely aware of the limited time he has left, and he spends his last moments reflecting on the people and experiences that have given his life meaning. His final words to the woman he loves are a testament to the importance of living fully in the present moment, of cherishing the people and experiences that make life worth living.
Mortality and the Human Condition
Finally, the poem grapples with the weighty issue of mortality and the human condition. The speaker is painfully aware of his own mortality, and he spends his last moments reflecting on the inevitability of death. But rather than despairing in the face of death, he finds comfort in the knowledge that his love for the woman he addresses will endure beyond his own life.
This idea of finding comfort in the face of death is a powerful one, and it speaks to the human condition more broadly. We are all mortal, and we all must face the inevitability of our own deaths. But in facing our own mortality, we can find solace in the knowledge that we are part of something larger than ourselves, something that endures beyond our own individual lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, David Lehman's "A Quick One Before I Go" is a masterful poem that explores some of the most fundamental aspects of the human condition. Through its exploration of themes of love, mortality, and the fleeting nature of life, the poem speaks to the very essence of what it means to be human. Its message is a powerful one, urging us to live fully in the present moment and to cherish the people and experiences that make life worth living. As I finished reading the poem, I felt a sense of awe and reverence for the power of poetry to capture the complexities of human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Quick One Before I Go: A Poem of Life and Death
David Lehman’s poem, A Quick One Before I Go, is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of life, death, and the human condition. In this 14-line poem, Lehman captures the essence of human existence and the fleeting nature of life. The poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the importance of living life to the fullest.
The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging that he is about to die. He says, “I like to think that when I fall, / A rain-drop in Death’s shoreless sea, / This shelf of books along the wall, / Beside my bed, will mourn for me.” The speaker is aware that death is imminent, and he imagines himself as a raindrop falling into the vast sea of death. The shelf of books beside his bed represents his life’s work, and he hopes that it will mourn for him after he is gone.
The second stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker’s life. He says, “As some one said, ‘Everybody’s dying,’ / And so I died. I’ll be the same / As those whose lives are lyings / Along the wall, beside the bed.” The speaker acknowledges that death is a universal experience, and he will be no different from those who have died before him. He compares his life to those who have died before him, and he realizes that his life will also be lying along the wall, beside the bed.
The third stanza of the poem is a call to action. The speaker says, “I leave the world without a tear, / Save for the heart that mourns for me; / But this poor heart, what does it bear? / No legacy of love to me.” The speaker is aware that he has not left a legacy of love behind. He has not lived his life to the fullest, and he has not made a significant impact on the world. He urges the reader to live their life to the fullest and leave a legacy of love behind.
The fourth and final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker’s mortality. He says, “I speak in a poem of the ruin / That is going to fall on every one of us / A rain without warning, coming from a clear sky, / To haunt and to hinder and to hit it home.” The speaker acknowledges that death is a ruin that will fall on every one of us. He compares death to a rain without warning, coming from a clear sky. Death will haunt us, hinder us, and hit it home.
The poem is a powerful reflection on the human condition. It is a reminder that life is fleeting and that death is inevitable. The speaker urges the reader to live their life to the fullest and leave a legacy of love behind. The poem is a call to action, a reminder that we should not take our lives for granted and that we should make the most of every moment.
The poem is also a reflection on the power of poetry. The speaker uses poetry to express his thoughts and feelings about life and death. He uses poetry to connect with the reader and to convey his message. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience.
In conclusion, A Quick One Before I Go is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of life, death, and the human condition. The poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the importance of living life to the fullest. The speaker urges the reader to leave a legacy of love behind and to make the most of every moment. The poem is a powerful reminder that life is fleeting and that we should not take our lives for granted. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience.
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