Response to Vladimir Holan's Resurrection

Simon S.
Resurrection by Vladimir Holan

Is it true that after this life of ours
we shall one day be awakened by a
terrifying clamour of trumpets?

Forgive me, God,
but I console myself that the beginning
and resurrection of all of us dead
will simply be announced
by the crowing of a cock

After that we will remain
lying down a while
The first to get up
will be mother

We'll hear her, quietly
laying the fire, quietly putting
the kettle on the stove and
cosily taking the teapot out of the cupboard.

We'll be home once more.

source:

Astley, Neil, ed. "Disappearing Acts." Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal Times. 1st ed. New York, NY: Miramax Books, 2003. 400-01.
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In the poem "Resurrection" by Vladimir Holan, the poet emphasizes the importance of the role that his mother played in his life. The poet believes that at the Resurrection, his mother should be the first one "to get up" (11) while the others, presumably the rest of the family, should "remain lying down a while" (9-10). Obviously, the poet must have had a strong and great relationship with his mother, who probably took great care of him and the rest of the family while he was growing up.

When reading this poem, I also saw an image in the text that reminded me of a typical morning at a usual family's house. First, "the crowing of the cock" will be heard (8), then the mom will be the first to get up from bed. While the rest of the family is slowly waking up, they will hear the mother "quietly laying the fire, quietly putting the kettle on the stove and cosily taking the teapot out of the cupboard." (13-16).

The last line of this poem "We'll be home once more" (17) is an important statement that leads us to many different interpretations of the poem. The statement is important because it combines the first stanza with the second one. In the first stanza, the poet is giving us his interpretation of the Resurrection. In the second stanza, he gives us an image or an example similar to the one of the Resurrection. "We'll be home once more" could mean that the family will feel like they were still children, and they will sort of go back in time to when their mom used to wake up early in the morning to make their lunches for school. This statement can also mean that the family will be together in heaven after the Resurrection, and that the poet will sort of be going home again to see his parents.

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