DIALOGUE VI: Reflections & Questions
Reflections on DIALOGUE VI from Start at Belonging
Tara
Sam’s imagery made me think deeply about the extent to which we can ever truly return to ourselves after a challenging illness experience. With Parkinson’s, a difficult experience might be a new symptom, the worsening of an old one, or simply the exhaustion of the long game. We return changed—but we do return.
I wanted this poem to capture the disorienting experience of continually adjusting to an altering self. The rhythm is intended to be chaotic yet meditative, reflecting change as both a mental and spiritual practice. The inclusion of song lyrics marks the poem as cultural—but I’ll leave the question of ‘why’ open for interpretation.
QUESTION PROMPTS
How does the imagery of “a landscape half remembered” resonate with your experiences of disorientation or change?
What emotions arise when you read about the idea that “knowing is temporary, subject to revision”? How does this concept relate to your life?
Which lines or images stand out to you the most? Why?
How do the song lyrics woven into the poem influence your understanding of the piece? Do they evoke any memories or feelings?
The poem blends external landscapes with internal experiences. How do you interpret the “small figures gathering along my inner paths”?
