reading blog #1

A PERFECT LIFE  by John Koethe

The first time I read the poem what caught my attention was that the poem starts with an affirmation “I have a perfect life. It isn't much, but it's enough for me.” Yet it ends with a complaint about life, like good life was just a memory “A blank space, like a hole left in the wake  

Of a perfect life, which closes over.”

The poem made in my head a picture of a middle age man tired of living. Him seated wondering how his past was so much better. Sucked by a strong depression, that came with the realization that he is alone. I saw this from the sentence “Reaching out to no one, as later middle age   

Turns old, and the strength is gone.” 

Recently I saw “midnight in Paris from Woody Allen”, the movie’s main idea 

was the lack of satisfaction of humans with what they have they always think what others had was better always living in comparison. I think the character of the poem shows this feeling of sadness towards his present, he leaves in the memory of his past therefore he hates his present.

The poem also described a person that felt very important and confident and wanted to get on the

top of social hierarchy, “I heed the promptings of my inner voice,   

And what I hear is comforting, full of reassurance   

For my own powers and innate superiority”

One strange thought that came to my mind was that this could be the poem of one of the characters from a vampire novel, the character that decides to stay human and grow old (a not so clever decision in my opinion), and then when he is old and looks around thinking his friends are still young and have a long life ahead cause they did chose to become vampires, depression hits him so he writes the poem (just a thought).

The poem contained a phrase that created unease for my logical thinking: “the fake   

Security of someone in the grip of a delusion…”

 The idea of a person that feels confident about something falling into a big delusion of greatness concerns me. I am scared of missing the humble part of myself.

It also made me go back to a phrase said by Don Quijote “humbleness is the best weapon of hypocrites” because to me it was worrying cause it was about not losing my humbleness but yet becoming a hypocrite is very easy these days, and what is worst to not be humble or to be a hypocrite (to be emerged in confidence publicly or privately?)

Finally although the poem talks about death and being old I don’t think the author emphasizes on that, I think he may be wanting to show readers that with age perspective changes and that the only thing that remains after you for a while is your name and the memory of the things you did, ( I’m still debating this in my head a bit, not sure what the ending means clearly)

I most end this by saying I liked the poem definitely go read it…

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/146675