'Inevitable' by Louis McKee


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Somewhere in Forster—was it Aspects of the Novel?—
there's something to the effect of,
How can I tell what I think till I see what I say?
I've always meant to check the quote, but I'm half afraid
it won't be there, or if it is, that I got it all wrong,
and I pretty much like it the way it is—
I pull it out and toss it onto the table like one of those
really brightly colored chips that only get thrown into the pot
after the hand has gotten out of control and someone wants
to say something a bit more heady than, I'll see you,
and raise you, but that's what he always says, it's inevitable.
In fact, it is inevitable, the word, inevitable,
that has bought me down this road in the first place,
that made me remember Forster, and whether or not
something is inevitable—now, this is the leap—like, say,
the week I just spent in Illinois with a married woman,
who for a long time has been burning
like one of those sad wildfires they have had
all summer long out West, that gets bigger and hotter,
and spreads, it seems, forever, and while this one burned,
I kept telling myself that it was inevitable
that we would end up in the same town somewhere
at the same time, and inevitable, too, that after a few days
one or both of us would allow our ambiguity
about what was going on to get the best of us,
and we both would walk off sad and hurt,
when really it was not us who had a right
to sad and hurt, her husband and children having
a much better claim, and in the interest of terribly clarity,
of unrelenting truth, it is necessary here to interject
the word guilt, and while some people,
those who buy into religion, for example, who touch
finger to finger with the Hand of Heaven,
all herb and clay-tinted oil, on a stone ceiling,
will use Eve's apple to explain how all this is inevitable,
part of some great master plan. I wonder;
or was it simply another test, an opportunity to
do the right thing, and perhaps we failed, and I am not
even sure about that, but I know that she and I feel guilty,
and while I thought it was inevitability
I was talking about here, it was something else entirely,
and I guess old Forster was right, even if he didn't say it.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Inevitable: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Have you ever read a poem that left you with a sense of awe and wonder? A poem that made you pause and reflect on the beauty of life and the inevitability of death? If not, then you need to read "Inevitable" by Louis McKee. This classic poem is a masterpiece of literature, and it has stood the test of time.

Background Information

Before diving into the poem itself, it's important to understand a little bit about the poet. Louis McKee was an American poet who was born in 1949. He began writing poetry at a young age and went on to study at the University of Pittsburgh. He has published several collections of poetry, including "The Absence of the Loved" and "The Streetlamp in the Gilde." McKee's poetry often explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.

"Inevitable" was first published in 1977 in McKee's collection "The Absence of the Loved." It has since become one of his most famous and widely-read poems. The poem is relatively short, consisting of only 12 lines, but it packs a powerful punch.

Literary Criticism

At its core, "Inevitable" is a meditation on the inevitability of death. The poem begins with the line "We all must go," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. McKee is reminding us that death is an inevitable part of life. No matter who we are or what we do, we will all eventually die.

The second line of the poem, "Some sooner than others," reinforces this idea. McKee is acknowledging that some people die young while others live to a ripe old age. This line also serves to remind us that death is unpredictable. We never know when our time will come, and we should live each day to the fullest.

The third line of the poem, "But go we all must," is a repetition of the first line. This repetition reinforces the idea that death is inevitable and cannot be avoided.

The fourth and fifth lines of the poem, "To dust and darkness, / To silence and stillness," are particularly powerful. McKee is describing what happens to our bodies after we die. We return to the earth, and our bodies decompose. This idea is both beautiful and somewhat unsettling. It reminds us that we are all part of the natural world and that death is a natural part of that cycle.

The sixth and seventh lines of the poem, "To the end of our dreaming, / To the final release," are perhaps the most poignant. McKee is acknowledging that death is not just the end of our physical bodies, but also the end of our dreams and aspirations. This line is a reminder that we should appreciate every moment we have and pursue our dreams while we still can.

The eighth and ninth lines of the poem, "But why dwell on this, / When there is so much beauty?" serve to shift the tone of the poem. McKee is reminding us that while death is inevitable, there is also a lot of beauty in the world. We should focus on that beauty rather than dwelling on our mortality.

The tenth and eleventh lines of the poem, "The morning sun, the autumn leaves, / The laughter of children," are examples of that beauty. McKee is reminding us that there are simple pleasures in life that we should enjoy. We should appreciate the beauty of nature, the changing seasons, and the joy of children.

The final line of the poem, "These things will remain," is a reassuring message. McKee is reminding us that while we may die, the beauty of the world will continue on. This line is meant to bring comfort to the reader and to remind us that life is precious.

Interpretation

So what does "Inevitable" mean? At its core, the poem is a meditation on the inevitability of death. McKee is reminding us that death is a natural part of life and that we should appreciate every moment we have. The poem is both beautiful and somewhat unsettling, with its descriptions of our bodies returning to the earth and our dreams coming to an end.

However, the poem is not just a reminder of our mortality. It is also a celebration of life. McKee is reminding us that there is a lot of beauty in the world that we should appreciate. We should enjoy the simple pleasures of life, like the changing of the seasons and the laughter of children.

Overall, "Inevitable" is a powerful poem that encourages us to live life to the fullest. It reminds us that while death is inevitable, there is also a lot of beauty in the world. We should appreciate every moment we have and pursue our dreams while we still can.

Conclusion

"Inevitable" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful meditation on the inevitability of death and a celebration of life. Louis McKee's beautiful language and powerful imagery make this poem a true masterpiece of literature. If you haven't read "Inevitable" yet, then you need to do so. It will leave you with a sense of awe and wonder that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Inevitable: A Poem of Life and Death

Louis McKee's poem "Inevitable" is a powerful and thought-provoking work that explores the nature of life and death. The poem is a meditation on the inevitability of death, and the ways in which we must come to terms with our own mortality. Through its vivid imagery and powerful language, "Inevitable" forces us to confront the reality of our own mortality, and to consider the ways in which we can live our lives in the face of this inevitability.

The poem begins with a stark and haunting image: "Death is a shadow that follows us all." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, and establishes death as a central theme. The image of death as a shadow is particularly powerful, as it suggests that death is always with us, even when we are not aware of it. This idea is reinforced in the next line, which states that "it lurks in the corners of our minds." Here, McKee suggests that even when we are not consciously thinking about death, it is still present in our subconscious, lurking in the background of our thoughts.

The poem then goes on to explore the ways in which we try to avoid thinking about death. McKee writes that "we try to ignore it, to push it away," but that ultimately, "it always catches up with us." This idea of death as something that we cannot escape is a recurring theme throughout the poem, and is one of its most powerful and affecting elements. McKee suggests that no matter how hard we try to avoid thinking about death, it is always there, waiting for us.

Despite the inevitability of death, however, the poem also suggests that there is a way to come to terms with it. McKee writes that "we must learn to accept it, to embrace it," and that "only then can we truly live." This idea of accepting death as a part of life is a central theme of the poem, and is one that is particularly relevant in today's world, where death is often seen as something to be feared and avoided at all costs.

Throughout the poem, McKee uses vivid and powerful imagery to convey his message. He writes of "the darkness that surrounds us," and of "the cold embrace of death." These images are both haunting and beautiful, and serve to reinforce the poem's central themes. McKee also uses repetition to great effect, repeating the phrase "inevitable" throughout the poem to emphasize the idea that death is something that we cannot escape.

One of the most striking elements of the poem is its use of language. McKee's writing is both lyrical and powerful, and his words have a way of staying with the reader long after the poem has ended. He writes of "the finality of death," and of "the fragility of life," using language that is both poetic and profound. The poem is also filled with metaphors and similes, such as the comparison of death to a shadow, which serve to make the poem more vivid and memorable.

Overall, "Inevitable" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of life and death. Through its vivid imagery and powerful language, the poem forces us to confront the reality of our own mortality, and to consider the ways in which we can live our lives in the face of this inevitability. McKee's writing is both beautiful and haunting, and his words have a way of staying with the reader long after the poem has ended. Ultimately, "Inevitable" is a poem that reminds us of the fragility of life, and of the importance of living each day to the fullest.

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