February Traveler
Who can draw you, February traveler?
Just let the evening be messy,
A distorted cloud hums in your pockets,
Fear of death every quarter of the night.
You are rain at four in the morning.
Who can draw you, February traveler?
You’re breaking all the lines.
This is a poem that I really liked. If I were asked how this poem makes me feel, I would say that it speaks about a traveler. I believe the “February Traveler” represents a person who returns to their hometown once a year in February, sharing stories of the unknown with their village.
The line “Just let the evening be messy” may symbolize the traveler’s bravery and recklessness while exploring. The phrase “A distorted cloud hums in your pockets,” in my opinion, reflects the strange, difficult, or even painful experiences the traveler has endured. Perhaps they have witnessed wrongdoing or heartbreaking events, which explains why they have so much to say or have gone through so much.
Regarding the “fear of death,” I would like to give an example: Imagine you are in a dark alley, an unexplored part of the world, or somewhere completely unfamiliar. Wouldn’t it be natural to feel a sense of discomfort or fear due to the uncertainty of what lies ahead? I believe the traveler in this poem is afraid of both the unknown future and the weight of their past actions.
The reference to “rain” might symbolize the emotions they experienced throughout their journey, or it could represent homesickness. In the final lines of the poem, it says, “Who can draw you, February traveler? You’re breaking all the lines.” This suggests that the traveler is going beyond what most people do, breaking boundaries and defying norms. No one can “draw” them because they refuse to be confined by expectations.
Overall, this poem conveys themes of adventure, guilt, shame, excitement, homesickness, overcoming boundaries, societal norms, and enduring tough situations.