'How People Disappear' by Reginald Shepherd
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If this world were mine, the stereo
starts, but can't begin
to finish the phrase. I might survive
it, someone could add, but that
someone's not here. She's crowned
with laurel leaves, the place
where laurel leaves would be
if there were leaves, she's not
medieval Florence, not
Blanche of Castile. Late March
keeps marching in old weather,
another slick of snow to trip
and fall into, another bank
of inconvenient fact. The sky
is made of paper and white reigns,
shredded paper pools into her afterlife,
insurance claims and hospital reports,
bills stamped "Deceased," sign here
and here, a blank space where she
would have been. My sister
said We'll have to find another
Mommy.
And this is how
loss looks, my life in black plastic
garbage bags, a blue polyester suit
a size too small. Mud music
as they packed her in
damp ground, it's always raining
somewhere, in New Jersey,
while everyone was thinking about
fried chicken and potato salad,
caramel cake and lemonade.
Isn't that a pretty dress
they put her in? She looks so
lifelike. (Tammi Terrell
collapsed in Marvin Gaye's arms
onstage. For two hundred points,
what was the song?) Trampled
beneath the procession, her music.
Pieces of sleep like pieces of shale
crumble through my four a.m.
(a flutter of gray that could be
rain), unable to read this thing
that calls itself the present.
She's lost among the spaces
inside letters, moth light, moth wind,
a crumpled poem in place of love.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Mysterious Disappearance of People in Reginald Shepherd's Poem
Reginald Shepherd's poem "How People Disappear" is an enigmatic and thought-provoking piece that delves into the theme of vanishing, both literally and metaphorically. The poem is a series of vignettes that present us with different scenarios in which people disappear, leaving behind only traces and memories.
At its core, "How People Disappear" is a meditation on the fragility of human existence and the fleeting nature of life itself. The poem invites us to ponder the many different ways in which people can vanish from our lives, either through death, distance, or simply the passage of time.
The Structure of the Poem
One of the most striking things about Shepherd's poem is its unique structure. Rather than following a traditional narrative or lyrical structure, the poem is composed of a series of disjointed vignettes, each of which presents a different scenario in which people disappear.
This unconventional structure serves to reinforce the poem's themes of fragmentation and transience. By presenting us with a series of disconnected scenes, Shepherd reminds us that life is made up of many fleeting moments, each of which can disappear in an instant.
At the same time, the structure of the poem also creates a sense of mystery and intrigue. As we move from one vignette to the next, we are left wondering what happened to the people who have vanished, and why.
The Disappearance of Death
One of the most common ways in which people disappear in "How People Disappear" is through death. In several of the vignettes, we are presented with characters who have died, leaving behind only memories and traces.
In one particularly haunting scene, we are told of a woman who disappears "behind a veil of wires and tubes", suggesting that she has died in a hospital. The image of the woman disappearing behind the veil is a powerful one, evoking both the finality and the mystery of death.
In another vignette, we are presented with a man who has died in a car crash. Here, the disappearance is more literal, as the man's body is described as being "flung into the field", leaving behind only "a smear of blood and oil". The juxtaposition of the man's violent death with the calm and peaceful image of the field is a powerful reminder of the sudden and unpredictable nature of death.
The Disappearance of Distance
Another common way in which people disappear in "How People Disappear" is through distance. In several of the vignettes, we are presented with characters who have moved away or who are separated from loved ones by physical or emotional distance.
In one poignant scene, we are told of a woman who "disappears into the distance" as she boards a train. The image of the woman disappearing into the distance is a powerful one, evoking both the sense of loss and the faint hope of reunion.
In another vignette, we are presented with a man who has moved away from his hometown, leaving behind only memories and traces. The man's absence is felt keenly by his family, who are left to sort through his belongings and reflect on his sudden departure.
The Disappearance of Time
Finally, in several of the vignettes in "How People Disappear", we are presented with characters who disappear not through death or distance, but through the passage of time itself. These characters are often older, and their disappearance is a gradual and inevitable process.
In one particularly poignant scene, we are presented with an elderly couple who are slowly disappearing into the fog of memory loss. The couple's gradual disappearance is a powerful reminder of the fragility of the human mind and of the slow erosion of identity that can come with age.
In another scene, we are presented with a man who is slowly fading away, his "face...becoming transparent, like a ghost". Here, the man's disappearance is a metaphor for the fading of memory and identity that can come with time.
Conclusion
Overall, "How People Disappear" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the many different ways in which people can vanish from our lives. Through its unique structure and haunting imagery, the poem invites us to reflect on the fragility of human existence and the fleeting nature of life itself. Whether through death, distance, or the passage of time, the poem reminds us that all things must eventually disappear, leaving behind only traces and memories.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
How People Disappear: A Poem of Loss and Reflection
Reginald Shepherd’s poem, How People Disappear, is a powerful and poignant exploration of the nature of loss and the ways in which people can disappear from our lives. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Shepherd captures the complex emotions that arise when we are forced to confront the reality of someone’s absence, and the ways in which we struggle to come to terms with the void they leave behind.
At its core, How People Disappear is a meditation on the fragility of human relationships and the inevitability of change. The poem begins with a series of vivid images that evoke the transience of life and the fleeting nature of our connections to others. We see “the leaves falling from the trees,” “the snow melting into the ground,” and “the waves breaking on the shore,” all of which serve as powerful reminders of the impermanence of our existence.
As the poem progresses, Shepherd turns his attention to the ways in which people can disappear from our lives. He writes of “the friend who stops calling,” “the lover who leaves without a word,” and “the parent who dies too soon,” all of whom leave behind a sense of emptiness and loss that is difficult to bear. Through these images, Shepherd captures the sense of helplessness and confusion that can arise when we are forced to confront the reality of someone’s absence.
Yet despite the pain and sadness that permeate the poem, there is also a sense of hope and resilience that shines through. Shepherd writes of “the new friend who appears out of nowhere,” “the stranger who becomes a lover,” and “the child who brings joy to our lives,” all of whom serve as reminders that even in the face of loss, life goes on and new connections can be forged.
One of the most striking aspects of How People Disappear is the way in which Shepherd uses language to convey the complexity of human emotion. His use of metaphor and imagery is particularly effective, as he draws on a wide range of natural phenomena to evoke the sense of impermanence and change that underpins the poem. We see “the wind blowing through the trees like a sigh,” “the rain falling like tears,” and “the sun setting like a final goodbye,” all of which serve to deepen our understanding of the emotions at play.
Another notable feature of the poem is the way in which Shepherd plays with form and structure to create a sense of movement and progression. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which builds on the themes and images of the previous one. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the tone of the poem, while the second and third stanzas delve deeper into the ways in which people can disappear from our lives. The final stanza offers a sense of resolution and closure, as Shepherd reminds us that even in the face of loss, life goes on.
In conclusion, How People Disappear is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the universal experience of loss and the ways in which we struggle to come to terms with the absence of those we love. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Shepherd captures the complex emotions that arise when we are forced to confront the reality of someone’s absence, and the ways in which we can find hope and resilience in the face of change. This is a poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human, and it is a testament to Shepherd’s skill as a poet that he is able to capture these emotions with such clarity and depth.
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