Poetry and the important aspects of life

            Throughout literature, there have been many dominant themes prevalent in multiple pieces of work. When viewing literature in specifics, it is clear that many written pieces reflect life in almost every essence. A primary focus amongst multiple writers can lie in within the themes primarily that are involved in everyday in life. However, there are instances in which writers will acknowledge the undoubtedly bleak parts of life. A specific topic that multiple writers have been known to discuss in-depth involves death, whether it be death of a loved one or death in general. A poem that displays the theme of death and its repercussions is the poem, Electrocution, written by Lola Ridge. Lola Ridge thoroughly displays how death in essence really how death can might feel in the eyes of the individual, as well as the individuals around them. In addition to Ridge’s writing, there have also been numerous pieces of literature displaying how death is a life-changing situation. The poem, Remnants, written by Jim Handlin depicts the image of death as a destructive and upsetting instance in everybody’s life. Furthermore, death, as a theme, can be seen in multiple pieces of music as well. Within the song, “Fear,” written by Tech N9ne, there is a view of how a personal struggle with individuals that you love can lead to an emotional death. Throughout multiple written pieces, whether it is poetry or music lyrics, there is a dominant prevalence of death in theme, creating upsetting and depressing mood, as well as tone.

           Within Lola Ridge’s poem, Electrocution, there is vivid use of consistent imagery, displaying real aspects of life through words on a page. The work written by Ridge portrays the aspects of the environment and emotion present in what is presumed to be a death sentence by electrocution. The distinct descriptive devices used by Ridge are illustrated to create a theme within the poem that can viewed as both depressing and relaxing. A display of vivid imagery is displayed with Ridge’s words by her saying, “But as a feeble moan . . .yet dared not breathe, /Who stared there at him, arching—like a tree/When the winds wrench it and the earth holds tight,” (10-12). Viewing the proceeding actions following the actual death of an individual as a quite and tense moment can evoke certain emotions that involve dire upset, confusion, and tenseness. Similarly to Lola Ridge’s poem, Electrocution, there are many pieces of literature that induce particular feelings in tone and mood. A notable poem, Remnants written by Jim Handlin, involves the perception of death as being a life-changing event. However, the setting in which the death is present within the poem differ greatly from Ridge’s poem.           
            Found in Jim Handlin’s poem, Remnants, there is clear depiction that death, especially within a family, can be a truly traumatizing experience. Experiencing small instances in life that are truly devastating can be often seen as predecessors or an instance used to brace individuals for an event that is even more devastating within the future. Handlin’s poem presents a character going through life as thinking of their mother, both alive and in death. The struggle of dealing with a death in one’s life is present as the description of the setting is seen through the words of Handlin, saying,

            They auction the contents

 the estate. Limoges and

cloisonné, piece after piece.

The bed she slept in, her silver

tea set. I notice cobwebs

in corners, dust, places

where the wallpaper’s faded. (Handlin 13-19).

Handlin displays a thorough evaluation of emotions and a setting while describing the home where a loving mother once lived. The feeling of losing a loved, such as a mother, is a ruinous and disastrous emotion that can destroy an individual’s mental status. The death of any individual’s family can create a terrible outcome. An outcome that might follow death in a family could be a form of an emotional death, similarly to the emotional death that is found within the rapper, Tech N9ne’s song, “Fear.”

            Aaron Dontez Yates, better known as Tech N9ne, is a tremendously lyrical and deep artist within the hip-hop industry. The work produced by Tech N9ne in the modern era can be perceived as classical poetry due to the fluid use of imagery, symbolism, and a multitude of other literature devices. Songs produced by Yates, such as “Fear,” excel in making the listener feel the emotions and struggles that Yates himself have gone through, throughout his life. The song “Fear,” produced in 2014, creates a sense of sorrow and loss of hope in the world while discussing the multiple medical issues present in his mother’s life. A key example of the display of death as a theme present within the song, is found in the last verse, with Yates proclaiming,

            I do a whole lot of prayin'

And I wonder if it's listenin' to Aaron's nightly whisperin'

'Bout mom in the tithe she's weakly payin'

I know it's a blessing, that I raised kids cause I got skill

And thank God that gangbang thing didn't bring me hot steel

Now my mom's worse and a lot ill

My fear is that this God I'm prayin' to for my mother is not real (Yates 55-62).

Within Yates lyrics, there is a true display of a loss of faith in god, exemplifying a sort of religious death as result of his mother growing closer and closer to her actual death due to numerous medical problems. Both Yates and Handlin display true instances in which a death in a family can be utterly devastating, both emotionally and psychologically.

            Remnants, written by Jim Handlin, creates a truly saddening theme, similarly to Aaron Yates’ song “Fear.” Within both pieces of writing, the portrayal of death as a theme is a key in setting an upsetting tone for the potential readers and listeners. It becomes clear that as one continues to read or listen to the works of both writers, the messages that are conveyed can be perceived to have multiple parallels. Tech N9ne’s “Fear” creates an atmosphere, in which one truly realizes that, while living in this day and age there is little one can do to heal people in a critical condition if they are already receiving all the medical help they can get. The sense of true hopelessness present within Yates’ song display how fragile, we as individuals truly are. Similarly to Aaron Yates, Handlin discusses how upsetting a death of someone so close, can truly be. The comprehension of death as a part of life, as well as an utterly upsetting aspect of an individual’s emotional status, should be a key part of everyone’s life.

            Throughout literature, there have been multiple pieces of poetry that portray real aspects of life vividly. Utilization of components in literature, such as symbolism, tone, theme, and allegory are key aspects in conveying a message that truly needs to be addressed. Writers like Jim Handlin, Aaron Dontez Yates, and Lola Ridge tackle one the most depressing aspects of life with deep and concentrated thought, in turn creating pieces of literature that has become well-known and respected. Truly analyzing the concept of death can evoke multiple emotions, most of which involve a dreaded sorrow and confusion. 

Tech N9ne. “Fear.” Strangeulation. Strange Music, 2014. CD.

Handlin, Jim. “Remnants.” Poetry.org. Web. n.d. 29 April 2016.

Lola Ridge. Electrocution. Poetry.org. Web. n.d. 29 April 2016.