Marshella
ENG102.0843
Prof. Tom Fink
Oct 1, 2006
The road that never comes to an end
The poem, “I will slog over this road” by Mahmoud Darwish is about a struggle. This
poem enables readers to visualize the reality that Darwish brings through the techniques of
language and the tropes. The tone of this poem represents the specific meaning that Darwish tries
to emphasize. The tone of a poem often conveys an attitude of the poet towards a certain theme
that is addressed. Like the manner of a person, the manner of a poem may be friendly or
belligerent towards a subject.
Darwish begins the poem: “I will slog over this endless road to its end.” It symbolizes
that no matter what happens around him, he will keep going through his life. It reflects his
attitude that always puts such an effort to achieve his better life. The tone of the poem is excited,
eager, proud, and enthusiastic about going to the next chapter of his life. The word “Slog”
specifically stresses the hard work he has done to survive in his world.
The first line signifies that even though he is going to die in facing the difficult obstacles,
he never wants to give up on what he has gotten.
Until my heart stops, I will slog over this endless, endless road
With nothing to lose but the dust, what has died in me, and a row of palms
Pointing towards what vanishes. I will pass the row of palms.
Darwish tries to show his consistency in living his life that is full of dilemma. Although there are
some hindrances blocking his way, he realizes that going through all distractions and being
patient while encountering the obstacles without worrying what has passed him by are
sometimes the best choice to accomplish his purpose. “With nothing to lose” indicates that even
he knows his existence is threatened but he feels he will not lose anything but the land that is not
valuable and the people from his native homeland. Also “row of palms” represents his small
track of life that will not influence his decision to keep moving. The last sentence he shows how
proud he is to fight against his destiny by accepting the reality that there is something missing as
a part of him such as his family, relatives and friends. There are a lot of people who have
common experiences with him. They are in exile. On the other hand, once more, he says he will
stay calm as a palm tree that swings softly and he ensures he will go through it. So will those
people.
The author gives us a very vivid picture of his wound from losing his country and being
separated with his lovely land where he was born and raised, but he emphasizes the wound does
not lead him to the end of his life because as time goes by, there will be a chance waiting for him
and more opportunity for recovering his haven.
The wound does not need its poet to paint the blood of death like a pomegranate!
On the roof of neighing, I will cut thirty openings for meaning
so that you may end one trail only so as to begin another.
Darwish’s soul is strong. Although he has to sacrifice by saying “cut thirty openings”, he
believes there is a worth ending. His search will give him a result. “Roof” in this poem
represents the level. Darwish puts his life above anything else. He is confident that his struggle
of seeking his future will reach fulfillment someday. The last line mentions “trail” that is a trope
for a little problem he has. Darwish has a vision of the next phase of his life that will be better
than before. He may attempt to end his past situation to open another life.
This is the climax of the poem because he mentions the “earth.” Darwish never wants to
surrender even to the realm
Whether this earth comes to an end or not, we’ll slog over this endless road.
more tense than a bow. Our steps, be arrows. Where were we a moment ago?
He intends to say in a universal form as he puts “we” since he is not the one who is being kicked
out of Palestine. There are some people from the same country who get segregated. He
encourages others to follow his way to never stop but keep running along the road as y. In his
trope of “tense than a bow,” the term “bow” signifies an arrow that always goes directly to the
target. He has strength and is expecting to accomplish his mission directly and never wants to
look back. The action he takes is like an arrow that reaches the target quickly until it does not
remember the way before. Darwish proves himself as a courageous person.
Darwish tries to open his vision to see the world outside so that other people may have
the same position as his.
Shall we join, in a while, the first arrow? The spinning wind whirled us.
So, what do you say?
I say: I will slog over this endless road to its end and my own.
He knows that people come from various cultures and there is a divergence between them. On
the other hand, the difference can never split them from destiny because they can overcome this
situation if they face it together. The “wind” will merge them in a sturdy association to go along
the road of reality.
After analyzing “I will slog over this road”, we know that tone and style of language in a
poem are very important because they can help the readers know what a poem is endeavoring to
describe. Every poem has different tone and techniques of language, which make every poem
unique. The reader can understand the real meaning of the poem by focusing on the tone and the
techniques which the poet uses. The image will be easily pictured by concentrating on every
trope that interprets the real condition the author has.