In the book “Instructions for Traveling West,” the poems speak about a vast range of personal struggles that many individuals endure throughout their lives. Starting with poems about childhood, and eventually writing about adulthood, Joy Sullivan has a poem and message for everybody regardless of where you are in life. One poem that I appreciated myself is “Solo.” This poem opens with “There is, of course, the delight of dining alone.” This first sentence immediately stands out and is strong to me because of the way it makes the reader accept the fact that joy can come from doing activities alone. Eating out alone is an activity that many people associate with loneliness. I even know multiple friends who would admit themselves that they are uncomfortable with eating at a public space alone. However, I believe that by stating “of course,” the author diminishes these thoughts from crossing the reader’s mind, and makes the reader agree that eating alone is perhaps delightful. This sentence sets the theme for the rest of the poem which I believe is a message for people who are scared to walk alone. The theme of becoming comfortable with yourself is potentially more important now in time than ever before. With the adoption of social media, people are more connected than ever before, and solitude is ever declining. The fear of living alone the rest of our lives is also a fear that many people face. This has led to couples rushing into marriages and humans connecting themselves to people that they don’t enjoy being around.
After reading the poem multiple times, I have come to appreciate the line “poetry read in private.” This phrase, although being simple, captures something far more profound. It truly captures the intimacy of reading something beautiful with nobody else around. It’s a reminder that not all joy needs to be shared to be real. Furthermore, people in modern society will post things online to be “performative,” meaning that they share themselves doing activities that they only enjoy from the attention it gets. However, this line serves as a reminder that everybody only lives their life once, and instead of engaging in activities that the majority enjoys, we should do things that we love personally. Activities that don’t need companionship to be enjoyable. Quiet rituals that make solo living not just bearable, but deeply fulfilling.
This poem to me was extremely straightforward and there were no parts that I struggled with understanding. However, some parts of the poem were more ambiguous than others. For instance, the line “swimming nude or snoring” feels humorous but also vulnerable. To me, it seems that Sullivan is trying to convey the feeling of freedom that one endures while living solo.
Personally, this poem resonates with me because I’ve had to learn how to enjoy my own company. I spent a lot of time alone this summer and whether I was taking myself out for chicken wings or going on a solo walk, I’ve found that being alone can be a form of self-care rather than a sign of loneliness. The poem “Solo” doesn’t just validate my experience, it elevates it.
https://wallpapers.com/feeling-alone-pictures
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