'To A Friend Going Blind' by Jorie Graham
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Today, because I couldn't find the shortcut through,
I had to walk this town's entire inner
perimeter to find
where the medieval walls break open
in an eighteenth century
arch. The yellow valley flickered on and off
through cracks and the gaps
for guns. Bruna is teaching me
to cut a pattern.
Saturdays we buy the cloth.
She takes it in her hands
like a good idea, feeling
for texture, grain, the built-in
limits. It's only as an afterthought she asks
and do you think it's beautiful?
Her measuring tapes hang down, corn-blond and endless,
from her neck.
When I look at her
I think Rapunzel,
how one could climb that measuring,
that love. But I was saying,
I wandered all along the street that hugs the walls,
a needle floating
on its cloth. Once
I shut my eyes and felt my way
along the stone. Outside
is the cashcrop, sunflowers, as far as one can see. Listen,
the wind rattles in them,
a loose worship
seeking an object,
an interruption. Sara,
the walls are beautiful. They block the view.
And it feels rich to be
inside their grasp.
When Bruna finishes her dress
it is the shape of what has come
to rescue her. She puts it on.
Editor 1 Interpretation
To A Friend Going Blind: A Poem That Captures the Fears and Vulnerabilities of Losing Sight
As humans, we rely heavily on our senses to navigate the world around us. Among these, sight is perhaps the most important. We take it for granted, assuming it will always be there. But what happens when we lose it? Jorie Graham's poem, "To A Friend Going Blind," explores this question, delving into the fears and vulnerabilities that arise from the gradual loss of sight.
The Power of Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its vivid imagery. Graham captures the essence of sight in her descriptions of colors, shapes, and textures. For instance, she describes "the blue-gray / of dawn" and the "all / bare / of the sky," painting a picture that is both beautiful and haunting.
But it's not just the visual imagery that is powerful. Graham also taps into the other senses, such as touch and sound. She talks about the "weight / of the wind," the "damp / coolness / of morning," and the "chirping / of birds." These sensory details create a world that is rich and vibrant, serving to emphasize the loss that the friend is experiencing.
The Slow Fade
Throughout the poem, Graham captures the slow fade of the friend's vision. She talks about "the edges / of things / blurring," the way that "objects / slip / from grasp," and the "dimming / of detail." These phrases capture the gradual decline of the friend's sight, highlighting the frustration and sadness that comes with it.
But it's not just the physical loss that Graham is exploring. There's also a psychological component to the friend's decline, as they struggle to come to terms with the reality of their situation. Graham notes that the friend is "clinging / to the last / of a world / that will never / be enough," showing how difficult it can be to let go of something so fundamental.
The Fear of the Unknown
Another key theme in the poem is the fear of the unknown. Graham captures this fear in phrases like "the dark / that comes / before / sleep," "the fear / of falling," and "the panic / of forgetting." These lines speak to the anxieties that come with losing something as essential as sight.
But perhaps the most poignant moment in the poem comes when Graham talks about the friend's fear of losing touch with the world around them. She notes that the friend is "afraid / of losing / the world / that / was here." This fear is not just about losing sight, but about losing touch with reality itself. It's a fear that anyone can relate to, regardless of whether they are losing their sight or not.
The Power of Friendship
Despite the sadness and fear that permeate the poem, there is also a sense of hope and resilience. This is embodied in the friendship between the speaker and the friend who is going blind. Throughout the poem, the speaker offers comfort and support, promising to "be here / when you need me," and "to guide / you."
This friendship serves as a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles. Even in the face of something as devastating as losing sight, there is still connection and love to be found. It's a message that is both comforting and uplifting, and one that makes the poem all the more powerful.
Conclusion
"To A Friend Going Blind" is a deeply moving poem that captures the fears and vulnerabilities that come with losing sight. Through vivid imagery, Graham paints a picture of a world that is slowly fading away, and explores the anxieties that arise from the fear of the unknown. But despite the sadness that permeates the poem, there is also a sense of hope and resilience, embodied in the friendship between the speaker and the friend. It's a reminder that even in the face of loss, there is still connection and love to be found.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To A Friend Going Blind: A Poem of Loss and Hope
Jorie Graham's To A Friend Going Blind is a poignant and powerful poem that explores the themes of loss, mortality, and the human condition. Written in free verse, the poem is a meditation on the experience of losing one's sight and the emotional and psychological impact of such a loss. Through vivid imagery, rich language, and a deeply personal voice, Graham captures the essence of what it means to confront our own mortality and the fragility of the human body.
The poem opens with a vivid description of the speaker's friend, who is slowly losing her sight. The friend is described as "a woman who is like a continent / slowly disappearing into the sea." This metaphorical image sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker grapples with the idea of loss and the inevitability of death. The use of the metaphor is particularly effective, as it conveys both the physical and emotional aspects of the friend's condition. The idea of a continent disappearing into the sea suggests a slow and gradual process, but also a sense of inevitability and finality.
Throughout the poem, Graham uses a range of sensory imagery to convey the experience of blindness. The friend's loss of sight is described as a "darkness that is like a kind of light," suggesting that there is a strange beauty in the experience of blindness. The darkness is also described as "a kind of music," which suggests that there is a rhythm and a flow to the experience of blindness. These images are powerful because they convey the complexity of the friend's experience, and the way in which blindness can be both terrifying and beautiful.
The poem also explores the idea of memory and the role it plays in our lives. The speaker reflects on the way in which memories are stored in the body, and how they can be triggered by sensory experiences. The friend's loss of sight is described as a kind of "unmooring," as if her memories are no longer anchored to the physical world. This idea is further developed in the lines "the body is a memory / and the memory is a body," which suggest that our memories are not just stored in our brains, but are also embodied in our physical selves.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which it explores the relationship between the self and the world. The friend's loss of sight is described as a kind of "unmooring," as if she is no longer anchored to the physical world. This idea is further developed in the lines "the body is a memory / and the memory is a body," which suggest that our memories are not just stored in our brains, but are also embodied in our physical selves. The poem suggests that our sense of self is intimately connected to our physical experience of the world, and that the loss of one's sight can have a profound impact on one's sense of self.
Despite the heavy themes of loss and mortality, the poem ultimately ends on a note of hope. The speaker reflects on the way in which the friend's loss of sight has forced her to confront her own mortality, and to appreciate the beauty of the world around her. The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful: "And so I say to you now, I give you back your sight, / Mary, / for you have given me mine / and I give you back your life, / for you have given me mine." These lines suggest that the friend's loss of sight has given the speaker a new appreciation for life, and a renewed sense of gratitude for the world around her.
In conclusion, Jorie Graham's To A Friend Going Blind is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of loss, mortality, and the human condition. Through vivid imagery, rich language, and a deeply personal voice, Graham captures the essence of what it means to confront our own mortality and the fragility of the human body. The poem is a meditation on the experience of losing one's sight, but it is also a celebration of life and the beauty of the world around us. Ultimately, the poem offers a message of hope and gratitude, reminding us to appreciate the preciousness of life and the gift of sight.
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