"emptying out of my mothers belly was
my very first act of disappearance
learning to shrink for a family who
likes their daughters invisible
was the second
the art of being empty is simple
believe them when they say
you are nothing
repeat it to yourself
like a wish
I am nothing
I am nothing
I am nothing so often
The only reason you
know you're still alive is
from the heaving of your chest"
~The Art of Being Empty - Rupi Kaur
The vocabulary contained within this poem is relatively simple. The diversity between this and everyday word choice is not significantly obvious. The tone gives the impression that the narrator is perhaps feeling defeated, or resigned to being "nothing." Two particular things that stand out are the usage of the words "emptying" and "heaving."
The definition of 'emptying' as stated by Dictionary.com is to make empty; deprive of contents; discharge the contents of: to empty a bucket. This is an awfully apathetic way to describe ones' birth, which falls into line with the rest of the poem. The narrator does not feel loved, valued, or acknowledged by her family and even states in the poem "...a family that likes their daughters invisible..." This implies that, as a daughter, her birth must not have been too celebratory an event. As the first line, "emptying out of my mothers belly..." sets the tone for the proceeding lines and does so in a manner much more fitting with the rest of the text than if the narrator had said, for example, 'My mother giving birth to me...'
The other word, 'heaving,' is defined as meaning to breathe with effort; pant: He sat there heaving and puffing from the effort. by, again, Dictionary.com. "...the heaving of your chest." Not 'from your heart beating in your chest' or another version which would indicate a specific difficulty with controlling ones' emotions, but rather 'heaving,' as in a difficulty breathing. The narrator speaks of a family where women are second class, where they are oppressed. Oppression doesn't offer much breathing space. This could imply that the effort and weight of being empty, or invisible, is strenuous and takes a toll on the narrator.
*As this is the first one I've ever done, I have no idea if this is even remotely the way I was supposed to go about this but I'm going for it*
Samina,
ReplyDeleteBe specific. What is the tone? Why do the words emptying and heaving stand out? I know that you describe the definition, but make a connection as well.
Last paragraph makes a great connection. Keep doing what you're doing, just add more specifics :)
-Ms. Barnhart
The author is expressing her pain, her lack of love, the lack of feeling.
ReplyDeleteShe uses heaving because she is trying to show how hard it is to keep going, how she struggles every beat.
Her family liking her silent is the confliction, she is empty because it pleases them.
She has no connection to her mother because of the absence of love. Simply why she feels as if she was only emptied and not completed, the word empty has Vast symbolism "emptying out of my mother's belly" "the art of being empty" "act of disappearance" "the heaving of your chest" this suggests emptiness inside.
"i am nothing"
She wishes it, she knows she is more than what they say, yet she still feels empty and worthless.
She not only talking about HER oppression but all oppression for women.
shes talking about neglect in the most needed of times, neglect of love, affection..
it is as if she is trying to convince herself, before she can try to tell anyone else..
She is imprinted with the words of her past.
also, i disagree with the statement "the vocabulary is relatively simple" because it is not.
DeleteIt has multiple meanings and it has such depth.
many cannot understand her pain.
Her words are not simple because today, in this generation, beautiful words are not commonly discovered.
I feel the same way you do
Delete~audrey~
what poetry terms are being used as in poetic devices
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteTrue, however, i do agree with the comment before yours because some of what she write i can grasp on my own, but then some i find myself googling the meaning to better understand what she is expressing. That being said, although you find it simple, i and the commenter before you, find it not so simple. However, the book becomes more interesting and very likeable to read once I've searched to understand her way of speaking. Good Book.
Delete~audrey~