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Summary Strangers forever IEB Poem
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In depth line by line analysis of Strangers forever by Amin Kassam
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Strangers forever - Amin KassamEach of us
Is a passenger
seated in one huge
compartment
going we do not know where
all strangers
thrown together by chance
who travel without arriving;
Who can read the whispers
of your mind
when they are hidden
even from you?
Though you open a window
in the chambers of your heart
though you strive to say
what you feel
and in striving reach
a state of understanding
there is still one part
one small part
that remains your own
one part
that neither I nor anyone else
will ever penetrate.
Forever strangers.
, Analysis
"Strangers forever" presents a thought-provoking exploration of the notion that a
complete understanding of ourselves or others is unattainable. The poem draws a parallel
between the journey of life and the experience of being passengers on a train bound for an
uncertain future, where we are essentially "strangers" thrown together. It conveys the
idea that our inherent inability to fully comprehend and share our inner selves hinders
genuine connections with one another. Ultimately, the poem concludes that these concealed
and impenetrable aspects of our identities keep us from achieving true intimacy and
perpetually keep us at a distance from one another.
The poem "Strangers forever" adopts a free verse format, comprising a single stanza of
25 lines. It lacks a prescribed rhyme scheme and adheres to an irregular meter, with no
fixed pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. The length of lines varies from as
short as two syllables to as long as eight syllables. Nevertheless, there is a subtle rhythm in
the verse. Short lines, usually two to three syllables long, alternate with longer lines,
producing a rhythmic flow akin to the gentle swaying of a train and the rhythmic "clickety-
clack" of its wheels over track joints.
Enjambment and repetition are skillfully employed by the poet to create this rhythmic
sense. Enjambment speeds up the pace, allowing the verses to move swiftly across the
shorter lines. The minimal use of punctuation, with only four punctuation marks in the entire
poem (including two full stops at lines 24 and 25), contributes to a feeling of monotony,
echoing the movement and inertia of train passengers. The repetitive use of words and
phrases, particularly in the build-up to the poem's climax, emphasizes the central message.
The title of the poem succinctly captures its central theme, emphasizing the idea that a
complete understanding of another person is an impossibility. The term "strangers" conveys
that the poem's focus is on unfamiliar or unknown individuals and evokes a sense of unease
akin to encountering strangers, whose intentions are uncertain. The adverb "forever"
intensifies this unease, suggesting that these strangers will forever remain mysterious and
inscrutable.
The poem commences by drawing a vivid
Collective human experience comparison between the human experience of
life and embarking on a journey. The speaker
1. Each of us invites the reader to become actively engaged in
this metaphorical voyage, referring to us as
Us – passengers
"passengers" occupying a shared
"compartment." This compelling opening immerses
the reader in the scenario, as if we were seated
Individual = Passenger alongside the speaker and other individuals within
a vast railway carriage. The mention of a
2. Is a passenger "compartment" is significant, as it evokes the
idea of a section of seats within a train, clearly
setting the scene. The speaker explicitly
The whole of humanity is sharing one confirms that we, the passengers, are
huge compartment essentially "strangers" to one another. We've
been brought together in this compartment not
by choice but by the unpredictable hand of
3. seated in one huge
"chance." The emphasis on chance underscores a
sense of isolation and possibly even alienation, as
it underscores the arbitrary nature of our
coexistence. This may also allude to the lack of
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