https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/56783 Creepy. Eerie. Death. Call me a bit morbid, but this poem is all these things combined in the most wonderful way. There's the idea of Death as a place, evoking thoughts of Greek mythology and the kingdom of Hades, the Underworld. I think that connects to the title, “Kingdom of Dirt,” because Death is a place where everyone becomes the same, buried in dirt, turning to dust. Cruz mentions, “the ambassadors from the Netherworld,” creating even more of that kingdom idea. A kingdom has ambassadors and so does death. Death has ambassadors like illness, old age, and murder, that bring us to its kingdom. I really enjoy the line, “Death, Disguised inside me, already,” because as scary as it sounds, it’s true. Each and every one of us, has Death lurking inside of us. It just chooses to be present at different times. People die suddenly, that’s Death eager to make its way back home to its kingdom. Perhaps your own personal Death is lazy, Death comes later in life. Or maybe it’s dragged unwillingly from your body, as you fall to the ground after a gunshot. Anyway I digress. Near the end of the poem, it refers to Death as the “discotheque as the end/ Of the world.” Death as a party, as a celebration. It fits, doesn’t it. On the way out of this world, we celebrate as everything we have gone through is lifted off of us. We are no longer sick, in pain, or in need. Worries are gone. “Life” or more aptly Death is now a party and isn’t that how we think of it. We die, we go to the afterlife, and we party for all eternity. Either in heaven or in hell. “Beautiful doomed,” that’s us. Beautiful beings that are, from the beginning of their birth, are destined, doomed, to die. Death is unescapable. How many horrible tales do we hear of those who attempted to flee their destinies? And what happens to them? They put themselves in a worse situation, damaging those around them, and still fulfilling their destinies in the end. Still dying. Death is the final resting place, the final meeting place, where all our beautiful tortured souls, are reunited. In this glorious “kingdom of dirt” that enfolds us all in the end. The meeting place of Death is this “love-Burned orchard.” What type of love? Perhaps all kinds. The love of families reunited, of friends reunited, of lovers reunited. The bonds between us last through death. I’ve never liked the idea of “‘till death do us part” referenced in so many wedding vows. Life is fleeting, but Death is eternal. And so is love. And love is what will connect us all in Death. Not so much of who we loved, but how and how much we loved. In the end, Death should not be feared. It is very much a part of our beings as life is. And we all wait eagerly to return to that kingdom of dirt.
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BriannaFull time thinker, full time nerd Archives
July 2017
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