The Walls do not Fall

When I read this poem the first time, I have to admit, I was terribly confused. So, I went through it stanza by stanza the second time I realized there is a whole lot happening in this poem. So, while I am analyzing this, I'm warning you, I could in fact be completely off-track, but these are the things a picked up while reading. But fair warning, I'm still pretty confused of the complete message, bare with me :)

I briefly read the author's biography, and it explained how she was very interested in spirituality and how she had traveled all over the world. This is very apparent in her writing because there are indeed multiple, and different religious references within this poem.

To start the poem, she makes many references to Egypt, such as the Luxor, lapises, and tombs. In biography it said she visited there, and Egyptians had many religious rituals and beliefs that are being reflected in the poem. Back in the day, tombs are where the Egyptians would keep the dead, so I assume when she describes the "desolate," and "gloomy," state of the tomb, she is inferring she is dead or dying. She is then visited by Samuel, who in the Roman-Catholic religion, is the prophet of God. He takes her to many places.

The one place she really elaborate on however is Pompeii. Pompeii is known as the "forgotten city," because it was destroyed by a volcanic eruption years and years ago. It killed a majority of Pompeii's population and is now "abandoned."(yes, I looked this up) When goes on to describe "Apocryphal fires," "bedeviled, drunk men," and skeletons without organs or souls. Basically a vision of hell. But Samuel doesn't keep her there.

This brings up the idea of reincarnation and Karma. She comes back as a worm, working hard just surviving through life. The last two stanzas are the most striking to me, and actually gave me chills when I read it. I think what she is trying to say is she isn't worried about her death or after life Karma, because she has done everything she could to make the best of the life as a worm that when she dies she will be in God's presence and he will reward her in her next life.

Another thing that may be a stretched, was when she writes, "when I, the industrious worm, spin my own shroud." I am picking up the message of self-sacrifice. A shroud is typically a protective cover people bury people in, so that is one possible interpretation of that stanza. And the idea that Jesus died for God, so self sacrifice is the "unselfish" act for God.

So because of her cultural and spiritual past, I believe by using conflicting religions and beliefs such as hell and reincarnation she is conveying a very powerful message. The idea that religion isn't necessarily important or definable, but spiritualism is. She is giving that religion isn't black and white, so having faith and beliefs is what is most important. Showing that religions so somewhat overlap and are similar in more ways than one, and in either religion, it is important to always praise god and be a "good human being," or worm...

So, I could be completely wrong...and wayyyy over-analyzed this poem, but with her cultural background, it makes sense to me...kind if. So those are my thoughts!