"Account of the Apparitions" Link (Scroll!): http://www.thefeministwire.com/2011/06/featured-poet-lillian-yvonne-bertram/ Hey, everyone! The third Lillian-Yvonne Bertram poem I want to discuss with you guys is called “Account of the Apparitions,” and details the beginning of what seems to be an economic recession in the speaker’s life. When I was reading this poem, I found that the tone and themes were starkly intense and dark throughout, with imagery depicting the emptiness and sorrow that can come with sudden poverty. The poem begins with the speaker announcing that the “billion dollar days” were over, and that the “old times” had returned. What the billion dollar days consisted of can be interpreted in a number of ways: the days could've been a period of time where the speaker was living in luxury and opulence, or it could've been a time where the speaker was simply living comfortably, with a sustainable income and living situation. The manner in which Bertram describes the old times implies that the current generation of youth being discussed had never lived through a time of economic hardship until now, and probably couldn't believe that such hardship could exist in modern times. Bertram establishes a tone of recollection by describing a memory of her “old man,” her father, sitting by a lamp in their home, which has become dusty and stale from the sudden decline in activity and liveliness. She calls the period of their misfortune the “Summer of Sorrow” and “The Fall of Painted Statues with Paint Worn Off,” which provides a window into how long the family has been living in that situation (Two whole seasons!). The poem suddenly becomes more intense as she describes how the remnants of the billion dollar days have to be aborted in order to make way for the new old times. I’m not quite sure if Bertram is speaking figuratively or literally when she describes how “every girl and friend”, including herself, needed an abortion. The way she goes on to talk about the occurrence as “a hip kind of cruel” makes me think about the influence of the economy on people’s home-lives and prospects (kids are expensive!). I think that Bertram is...valiant...for successfully taking on what many people considers a taboo topic to write about. She also includes a bit where she describes how their shawls and blankets were “sewn with thinning economic plans,” which practically embodies poverty in America. She uses symbolism in talking about the tattoos behind each of their ears, of dollar signs and the Eye of Horus, which are both considered symbols of stability and protection. Bertram’s poetry never disappoints. She is able to describe her experiences in life and thoughts she’s had beautifully using poetry as her artistic medium.
4 Comments
Derek
12/5/2016 09:28:29 am
Hey thanks for you comment on my blog a while back! I thought your analysis was very strong all around. I love how you noticed the tone shift in the poem as well. I think the speaker might be speaking from a more literal point of view in the poem about the abortion while the actual narrator is speaking through a figurative lens.
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Cassie
12/5/2016 09:28:47 am
I love your analysis of this poem and how you took on such an intense poem. Your analysis of how the author is implying that this recession is the first economic hardship this generation has faced and so they are shocked by its cruelty is really good. I also like how you included the seasons part of the poem as it doesn't just represent the length of time but how the recession has taken summer, usually known for fun times, and has turned it into a "Summer of Sorrow". Great job!
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Mallory
12/9/2016 10:46:12 am
I really liked how you spoke of symbolism. As I read through the poem I started to pick up on it and I am glad you pointed it out in your analysis!
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AuthorHello everyone! My name is Alecia Guishard. Welcome to Reader's Delight, a site that fosters an open discussion on literature, as well as provides an avenue for my own thoughts on various reads. Archives
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