An Early Afterlife

Pastan, Linda

Primary Category: Literature / Poetry

Genre: Poem

Annotated by:
Aull, Felice
  • Date of entry: May-21-1996

Summary

In Linda Pastan's poem from her latest collection of the same name, the narrator proposes to prepare for the parting that comes with death while "in the fallacy of perfect health . . . ." Now, while there is time, dear ones could behave toward each other with all the loving tenderness befitting a preparation for permanent loss. Then the "ragged things that are coming next . . . would be like postscripts . . . Nothing could touch us."

Commentary

This is one of several poems from this collection in which Pastan contemplates life's transience, aging, and loss.

Primary Source

An Early Afterlife

Publisher

W. W. Norton

Place Published

New York

Edition

1995