The poem
The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat. You will love again the stranger who was your self. Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored for another, who knows you by heart. Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes, peel your own image from the mirror. Sit. Feast on your life.
Walcotts poem isnt a bad poem, but not a terriblly good poem. I think I'm a better poet, though i'm unknown. My name is Lamont Palmer. Punch my name into Google and be exposed to some good, vital poetry. If you disagree with that assessment, let me know.
end of story
its a masterpeice, and most of all its hilareous!!!
Do you mean those four comments are the ones that were accepted? I'd hate to see the ones that were not. I hate to be critical, but using the page of such a magnificant poem to "show yourself" cheapens the whole purpose of the site. I found it moving.
most people would say a 15 year old girl reading poetry is a geek but when you read somrthing like this you just want to tell the world how great it is because it explains things that you think about for so long but never find the words this poem is truly great
XamyX
I've got an exam with this tomorrow and i'm completely stuck for ideas. dont understand the poem. will someone analyse it in detail 4 me???
I think it's beautiful - it really makes you think. People who use a poem like that to expose their own work shouldn't call themselves poets. After reading a Love after Love, you should really just sit for a while and try to work out the meaning, otherwise what's the point? I read it after a really nasty break up and it helped me through.
i dont really understand the poem myself. Hitherto, i am a better poet. Anyway, must make a spot of brunch...
i cant believe how much i love this poem it really touched me every time i read it i cry!!!
i read it over and over again and each time it reminds me of my boyfriend who i love with all my heart i love you phillip xxxxx
At first reading this poem, i thought the poet was really vain. But reading through it more carefully made me realise the true meaning. It is a message to us all that there should be a time where we should put ourselves first. To me it is like advice presented in a way in which you feel you should do thus, rather than you could do this. I may be a young poet (since i am only 14), but i feel obliged to do this, and i believe it takes a true poet to understand it. But people can interpretate things in many ways.
Reading this poem made me realize alot how much i value myself, and how much i ignore myself, when people just stand there and make nice comments such as your beautiful e.t.c i dont really take it to heart but from reading this poem it made me realize that eveyone matters in other words ESPECIALLY YOURSELF... this dont mean im vain it just means everyone should love themself. am i right?
The poem seems to echo the thought "to thine own self be true."In fulfilling the roles we take on or our thrust on us by others we spend our lives measuring ourselves against their expectations or some standard role model. Walcott reminds us of the worth of each individual not least ourself. It is an uplifting poem.
I think this poem really says what a lot of people really need to hear. I would like to know why Derek Walcott wrote this poem, whether it was writen about a member of family or a friend or whether it was wrten for personal reasons
I have a project that is due on Mr. Walcott [email removed] I felt a bit hesitant. I have to read 2 of his poems and compare the two.One of them was discussed in class which is "A City's Death By Fire" and the next one is "Central America". I decided to research on my own on this poet and came upon this poem which truly caught my attention. I believe he is inspiring people to love yourself first b4 loving others. Put u first then the rest will come to place.
The way I intrepet the poem is " you are never far from yourself no matter far you journey and occasionally you have to reconnect and reevaluate your soul and ask . Are you going in the right direction? Also try to remember the person you were before you started this journey. Give yourself credit for being who you are. O K thats enough. As you can see I really like the poem. I discovered it at the beginning of the novel "The Time Travelers Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger I recommend it highly.
Thia poen is NOT Derek Walcott's. What a disgrace that he would claim it to be! This poen was wriyyen in the 12th century by a Sufi poet/
What is the name of the 12th century Sufi poet that is supposed to have written this poem
this poem really opens up to hearts but is hard to understand and is very confusing but after reading it through a few times it is easier and heart warming and real feminine poetry
poem
zis poem veri goot i likee very
amazing
i think this poem is brill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hello
hello i love this poem kind of exspresses how i feel about someone but then again i need to get a life:) cya xxxx good work derek!!!!!