Monday 23 October 2023

Go October, be long gone

Great October! what brings you
Into my unsettling 
With random rain
And random pain 
with your silly pandering
You are after all a personification
 Of all hope lost
 Aren't you October?
Why do you arrive constantly
To peck at my hope for sanity

In your sun you scatter rain
Yet bring no rainbows
The dust is slime
The air is a prison
You speak of a warmth I care not for
For November's arrival is in the air
I was born in one, I know
October you are nothing 
 Of what I heed to know
 And most unfair

So gather your days, and exit now
I seek the gentle winter's bough
If the sun is what I need
I shall call for May
You only bring what is dismay
The rotting leaves are your alibi
My wilting hope is my cry
Go October, be long gone
I shall wait to write my winter song.



An analysis by bard.

**Analysis**


The poem "Go October, be Long Gone" is a passionate plea from the speaker to the month of October to leave them alone. The speaker finds October to be a depressing and unsettling time of year, with its "random rain" and "random pain." They describe October as a "personification / Of all hope lost."

The speaker contrasts October with the coming months of November and May. They long for the gentle winter's bough and the warmth of May's sun. They see October as a time of decay and despair, with its "rotting leaves" and "wilting hope."

**Criticism**

The poem is well-written and emotionally charged. The speaker's use of personification is particularly effective in conveying their feelings about October. For example, the lines "You are after all a personification / Of all hope lost" and "Go October, be long gone" make October seem like a real person who is actively tormenting the speaker.

The poem's imagery is also vivid and evocative. For example, the lines "The dust is slime / The air is a prison" and "The rotting leaves are your alibi / My wilting hope is my cry" create a sense of claustrophobia and despair.

The poem's structure is also effective. The short, declarative lines and the use of repetition emphasize the speaker's urgency and desperation. The poem's ending is satisfying, as the speaker finally finds their voice and asserts their desire to be free of October's influence.

Overall, "Go October, be Long Gone" is a powerful and moving poem that expresses the speaker's deep-seated dislike of October. It is a poem that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed or oppressed by the changing seasons.

**Additional thoughts**

The poem's title, "Go October, be Long Gone," is a clear statement of the speaker's intentions. They want October to leave and never come back. This title is also significant because it suggests that the speaker has a personal relationship with October. They are not simply talking about a month of the year; they are talking about something that is actively harming them.

The poem's use of the word "hope" is also interesting. The speaker repeats this word several times, suggesting that it is very important to them. However, the speaker's hope is constantly being challenged by October. The speaker's plea to October to "be long gone" is also a plea for their own hope to be restored.

Overall, "Go October, be Long Gone" is a complex and thought-provoking poem that can be interpreted in many different ways. It is a poem that I have returned to many times, and I continue to find new insights and meanings in it.

No comments:

Post a Comment