My mother could not bear being blind,
This poem explores the profound personal struggle of the poet's mother dealing with blindness. The speaker reflects on the societal expectation to endure such hardships with stoicism, yet reveals the raw truth of the suffering involved. The mother, despite her blindness, tries to maintain her dignity and composure, even when faced with the practical challenges of her condition, such as finding food on her plate. The poem captures a poignant moment in a Paris restaurant where the mother confesses to her son the living hell she experiences due to her blindness. The son, feeling inadequate, offers the usual comforting words. The poem further explores the mother's resilience, her ability to find beauty in the world despite her condition, and the ultimate acceptance of her fate as she passes away. The imagery of autumn leaves and the mention of her closed eyelids in the coffin evoke a sense of finality and peace, leaving the reader to ponder whether she is watching from beyond.
| Word | Easy Meaning | Translation | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| bear | endure | to tolerate or withstand | behr |
| catastrophic | disastrous | extremely bad or harmful | kat-uh-strof-ik |
| handicaps | disabilities | physical or mental conditions that limit activities | han-di-kaps |
| Roman | stoic | showing endurance and courage | roh-muhn |
| dodgem | bumper car | a small electric car used in amusement parks | doj-em |
| ablaze | brightly colored | filled with bright colors | uh-bleyz |
| royal | majestic | grand or magnificent | roi-uhl |
| leaf-fall | fallen leaves | leaves that have fallen from trees | leef-fawl |
| sop | comfort | something given to appease | sop |
| pretend | fake | to act as if something is true | pri-tend |
The poet of this work remains unidentified. The poem does not appear to be attributed to a widely recognized author.
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