This Is A Photograph Of Me - A poem by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood - This Is A Photograph Of Me

It was taken some time ago.
At first it seems to be
a smeared
print: blurred lines and grey flecks
blended with the paper;

then, as you scan
it, you see in the left-hand corner
a thing that is like a branch: part of a tree
(balsam or spruce) emerging
and, to the right, halfway up
what ought to be a gentle
slope, a small frame house.

In the background there is a lake,
and beyond that, some low hills.

(The photograph was taken
the day after I drowned.

I am in the lake, in the center
of the picture, just under the surface.

It is difficult to say where
precisely, or to say
how large or small I am:
the effect of water
on light is a distortion

but if you look long enough,
eventually
you will be able to see me.)

Added: on June 19th, 2006 at 6:59 PM | Viewed: 14925 times | Comments (16)

This Is A Photograph Of Me - Comments and Information
Poet: Margaret Atwood Poem: This Is A Photograph Of Me Year: Published/Written in 1966 Comment 16 of 16, added on December 11th, 2006 at 4:08 AM. Romantic poets consider "Nature" as mother which has cordiality and tenderness towards mankind as her chid. But Atwood has here brougth the violent side of the nature towards man. It is that man as superior being in this world loses his identity in climatic condition and landscape given by nature. Thus she brings nature as not mother, but extremeness of nature towards man. Sebastian Romi from India Comment 15 of 16, added on June 23rd, 2006 at 10:42 PM. I really cant understand what she was trying to say to tell ,, do you have an idea what she wanna say ????? i am so confused about this poem luis from Brazil Comment 14 of 16, added on June 19th, 2006 at 6:59 PM. All of what people have said regarding this poem is true, whatever someone makes of a poem is what they see, and what they believe the poet may be trying to get across to them. The branch may be a connection to her family, the house being society, the slope that ought to be easy is a challenge, the lake is the origin of her life, the water that distorts the light and the light itself could possibly be something sacred? Atwood couldn't beat the challenge (Slope) to make it into society (house). she sees her family (tree) being eaten by it's anus and realizes that the vaginal discharge in between her hairy, disgustingly revolting legs have now been forever forgotten. she is now aware that if the men do not stick their penises into the vagina that it cannot be as she is trying to set it out to be. thank you, and i like jacking off to hot chicks on webcams. James Kews from Spain More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, This Is A Photograph Of Me, has received 16 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Margaret Atwood with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
This Is A Photograph Of Me Year: Published/Written in 1966 Last read: 2008-07-05 16:50:32 Viewed 14925 times. Added on June 19th, 2006 at 6:59 PM.

Atwood Info
Biography More Poems (28 poems) Books