DIALOGUE II: Reflections & Questions
Reflections on DIALOGUE II from Start at Belonging
Tara
This poem emerged from conversations with Sam about the loss and grief that can accompany degenerative illness. As we exchanged fragments of illustrations and poems, two vivid but seemingly unrelated memories surfaced—one of my cousin crying at a funeral, and another of a ferry ride with a friend.
By placing these memories side by side, shuffling them, and playing with fragmentation, I realised that linking experiences of grief and travel could create a complex picture of grief as both a personal and collective experience. The poem then became a kind of memorial—something I could hold closely for comfort or share as a way of connecting with others.
QUESTION PROMPTS
How do the illustration and poem work together to shape your understanding of the story? Were there moments where they seemed to align or diverge?
What role does instability play in this piece? Consider dissolving words, shifting memories, and crumbling architecture—how does imagery influence your sense of meaning or certainty?
The poem explores the tension between presence and absence. How did that theme resonate with you? How does the idea of an ‘untethered’ story connect to the way we communicate personal experience?
Do you think the poem suggests that stories can ever be fully told, or are they always fragmentary and shifting?
Did any lines or images connect with your own experiences of loss, memory, or identity?
