Greetings Joy !

I am currently reviewing as part of the tasks set by the "Game of Thrones" . I especially visited your port to dig your most precious gems then this piece appeared. In this review, I mainly focus on the positives of your piece and I may point some Areas for Improvement if found any. Without much a do, here are the things I noticed after delving deeper into the contents:


This poem, titled "Self-Discovery at Midnight," delves into the speaker's experience of dismantling limiting narratives and societal expectations. The imagery is visceral, portraying the speaker's self-discovery as a series of leaps from various constraints.

The poem opens with a dramatic escape. The speaker bursts free from a "large barge," its decay ("stranded with seaweed" and "encrusted with barnacles") symbolizing a life devoid of growth. Her struggle for air ("rummaging around for air / and choking with asthma") emphasizes a feeling of suffocation within this restricted existence. The following lines about Ben's superficial solution – a "medicinal tonic with a sprig of parsley" – inject a sardonic tone, suggesting a rejection of inauthentic remedies for deeper problems.

The speaker then dismantles romanticized notions. Fairytales of effortless beginnings ("born from a wave / and brought home / to a mother by a stork") and the idealized picture of domestic bliss ("white picket fence") are discarded. Social rhetoric, with its empty promises, is also deemed inadequate – "bamboozled / but never fed the heart."

Organized religion comes under scrutiny as well. The speaker challenges "zealous rites" and "configured beliefs," with the image of "stone cathedrals" where "choirs fall silent" suggesting a disillusionment with established dogma.

The concept of heritage is explored with nuance. The speaker seems to hold onto cherished aspects of her past, the comfort of "home-made soup" and the emotional catharsis of "tears and sorrow wrapped / with butter and cheese in pastry." However, she acknowledges the pain ("tears and sorrow") that came with it, and the coldness of a father whose "farewell," like "a brown stain / splashed on white porcelain," seems to represent a past trauma she needs to move beyond.

Historical narratives ("wrinkled annals" and "sepia photos") are also seen as incomplete. These fragmented accounts, like the "fringed edges" of the photos, offer glimpses of a "ruined civilization," a past that can't fully explain the present. Yet, the speaker finds glimpses of personal truths ("paradises") amidst the "stormy thoughts" ("black exhaust") of uncertainty.

"Self-Discovery at Midnight" is a compelling portrait of self-invention. The speaker embarks on a courageous journey, challenging societal norms, confronting the limitations of the past, and forging her own path, even as doubts and complexities remain. The poem's strength lies in its rich imagery and its exploration of the multifaceted nature of self-discovery. Thank you for sharing this. Write on!

Best regards,
Gervic