Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Now She's Breathing" by Yehuda Amichai is a deeply moving poem that encapsulates the profound moments of transition between life and death. The poem captures the emotional complexity of witnessing a loved one on the threshold of passing away, intertwining the physical and the symbolic, the tangible and the intangible aspects of this experience.

The poem opens with the narrator's observation, "Now she's breathing quietly, I said," which suggests a moment of apparent peace or stability. However, this surface calm is immediately contradicted by the doctor's statement, "No, she's screaming inside because of a great pain." This juxtaposition of external quietude and internal agony introduces the theme of unseen suffering and the depth of pain that can exist beneath a serene exterior.

The mention of the wedding ring is particularly poignant. The ring, a symbol of love and commitment, has become a source of physical pain due to swelling. The narrator's permission to remove the ring "in the name of the pain and in the name of my father who never left her in his life" adds a layer of emotional complexity, highlighting the deep connections and shared history that the ring represents. The struggle to remove the ring and the eventual need to cut it serves as a metaphor for the difficult decisions and actions that are often necessary in the face of death and loss.

The final lines of the poem, "Now she's laughing, practicing the laughter of over there. Now she's crying, weaning herself from the crying of here," suggest a transition from the mortal world to an afterlife or another existence. This transition is marked by a change in emotional expression, as if the subject is preparing for a new reality beyond the familiar pain and joy of the current one.

The reference to the passport photo, "taken many years ago," and the fact that "she never went abroad" after coming to Israel, speaks to a life that has seen changes and movement but eventually settled into a finality. The poignant ending, "A death certificate doesn't need a photo," underscores the finality of death and the stripping away of individual identity, leaving behind only the essence of the person.

In summary, "Now She's Breathing" is a powerful exploration of the emotional landscape surrounding death. Through its vivid imagery and symbolic elements, the poem conveys the pain, the struggle for release, and the transition from life to death, capturing the complex interplay of love, loss, and the human experience of letting go

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