blue jay - reflection
This poem is a meditation on the nature of life, death, and the afterlife - struggling to come to terms with the death of a loved one, but finding solace in the natural world and in the memories shared with the deceased.
It begins with "i have yet to hear his thoughts on the matter." The speaker is either still trying to process their grief and has not yet come to terms with the death of their loved one, or they are waiting for some kind of sign or message from the deceased. The poem then goes on to describe the man who "read it all," suggesting that he was a man of great knowledge and learning, and then mentions the "sacred mysteries," which could refer to the mysteries of life and death, or religious or spiritual beliefs.
Jay sits in a chair and watches through the window, as if he is now watching the world from afar.
The speaker then mentions the "lake house shores”( the north shore cabin). “Just a walk down the road until we returned, with quiet repose,” suggesting the speaker is still grieving the loss of a loved one, but also finding comfort in memories shared. Then, "rising vapors in the river," or the cycle of life and death, and the "wreath of the wind," which hints that the deceased's memory will continue to live on. The speaker describes a moment that "lingers in falling and stillness," which tries to make sense of the way that time seems to stand still when someone we love dies.
Who is my "brothers keeper”?
"At sunrise, everything is luminous, but not clear," where grief can make things seem both bright and dark at the same time. However, they "see us clearly in this sunshine," and are watching over us, with the hope of reuniting one day.
"We felt the woods and rivers were gracious while we walked , beside him." There is comfort in this natural world , and in memories shared with those that have come and gone in this life.
