"Dying unknown (6)" ; 25 May, 2023

12 May, 2023
Uploaded to ChatGPT for analysis
Poem : “Dying unknown (6)”

Soman Ragavan : Hello. Can I post a poem of mine for analysis, please ?

ChatGPT
Sure, I'd be happy to help you analyze your poem. Please go ahead and post it.
 
Soman Ragavan : My poem : "Dying unknown (6)." This is about a man who was found dead in his flat in Norway in April 2021. He had been dead for nine years. My submission will be in two parts : Part 1 : background notes to the poem; Part 2 : text of the poem. I will post Part 1 first. 

ChatGPT
Great, please go ahead and post Part 1 of your background notes. Once you're done, you can proceed with Part 2, the text of the poem.
 
Soman Ragavan : Here is Part 1. 12 May, 2023 Poems “DYING UNKNOWN (1),” to “DYING UNKNOWN (5).” In April 2021, a man in Norway was found dead in his flat; he had been dead since nine years.

(Background Notes attached)

Soman Ragavan : Here is Part 2. Text of the poem "Dying unknown (6)". Comment on each section, then give overall comments. Mention similar works by other writers. DYING UNKNOWN (6)

“(…) But each man's path is his own path; and the poet, as historian of the soul's journeyings, must seize the crucial turning-points peculiar to each man's pilgrimage. (…)”
Charlton on Browning (1812-1889). "FIFTEEN POETS." Oxford : English Language Book Society and Oxford University Press, 1970. Full acknowledgements are made to the authors, publishers and rights-holders.

--- “(…) Mow'd down by the marauding, crippling illness,
They cry and struggle, but there is no redress;
There is no compassion in this fate so cruel,
As they fight out this devastating, deadly duel (…)”
---From my poem “Lots of handkerchiefs.”

--- “God, what a life, the life of the disabl'd !
'Tis not enough having to contend with nature :
Around them so many obstacles be assembl'd :
To the uncaring daily do they fall as pasture. (…)”

(…)

“(…) Still more might go on groping the poor disabl'd :
'Pon the reserv'd seat be the usurper settl'd.
Motherland, finally when would they learn :
After compassion when would they yearn ! (…)”
---From my poem “Motherland (4)”

ChatGPT
Thank you for sharing the text of your poem, "Dying unknown (6)." Here are my comments on each section:

Section 1: The opening lines set the temporal context of the poem, mentioning the onset of Covid-19 and its eventual arrival in Norway, leading to the discovery of the man's skeleton in April 2021.

Section 2: The poem reflects on the unknown death of the man, emphasizing that he remained unnoticed even by computer systems. His skeleton, a living monument, serves as a stark reminder of his existence.

Section 3: The poem contemplates the potential consequences if the man had died from Covid-19, suggesting the virus could have spread to neighboring flats due to indifference and lack of precautions. The imagery of "retribution" highlights the consequences of neglect and indifference towards others.

Section 4: The poem explores the scenario if the man had died from Covid-19 and his flat was treated as vacant. It criticizes the lack of attention from neighbors and health services, contrasting their coldness with the poetic justice that the skeleton represents.

Section 5: The poem raises questions about the funeral arrangements for the man and the official recording of his death. It comments on the irony of the man's bill payments continuing after his presumed year of death, highlighting the bureaucratic inertia and the man's dutifulness in settling bills. (My note : the man himself did not settle the bills; the bank settled them by direct debit from his account automatically; this continued even after his death. SR).

Section 6: The poem concludes with the burial of the skeleton, acknowledging that it was a belated but necessary act. The story of the man's discovery and burial spreads across various platforms.

Overall, "Dying unknown (6)" raises thought-provoking themes of neglect, indifference, and the consequences of societal apathy. It highlights the fragility of human existence and the need for compassion and care towards others.

As for similar works by other writers, this poem resonates with themes explored in literary works that reflect on the anonymity and isolation of individuals in society, such as "The Wasteland" by T.S. Eliot and "The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden.
Thank you for sharing your poem.
 
Soman Ragavan : Thank you. Goodbye for now.

ChatGPT
You're welcome! If you have any more questions or need assistance in the future, feel free to ask. Goodbye, and take care!

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                                                 DYING UNKNOWN (6)

                          [See the Notes in my poem “Dying unknown (1)”]

“(…) But each man's path is his own path; and the poet, as historian of the soul's journeyings, must seize the crucial turning-points peculiar to each man's pilgrimage. (…)”
                --Charlton on Browning (1812-1889). "FIFTEEN POETS." Oxford : English Language Book Society and Oxford University Press, 1970. Full acknowledgements are made to the authors, publishers and rights-holders. 

---

“(…) Mow'd down by the marauding, crippling illness,
They cry and struggle, but there is no redress;
There is no compassion in this fate so cruel,
As they fight out this devastating, deadly duel (…)”
                    ---From my poem “Lots of handkerchiefs.”

---

“God, what a life, the life of the disabl'd !
'Tis not enough having to contend with nature :
Around them so many obstacles be assembl'd :
To the uncaring daily do they fall as pasture. (…)”

(…)

“(…) Still more might go on groping the poor disabl'd :
'Pon the reserv'd seat be the usurper settl'd.
Motherland, finally when would they learn :
After compassion when would they yearn ! (…)
                    ---From my poem “Motherland (4)”


***

                                                  POEM :
                                      DYING UNKNOWN (6)

In December 2019 Covid started in China :
In February 2020 it reach’d Norway :
In April 2021 the man was found dead :
In his flat, his skeleton was found :
A fully-cloth’d skeleton :
After nine years :
In one of the happiest countries…

Fourteen months
AFTER Covid reach’d the land,
The man’s skeleton was found…
He did not die from Covid;
He died probably in 2012 :
Covid started in December 2019 :
He died of a broken heart...
No forensic science,
No autopsy
Can notice that :
Only a poet can...

Probably in 2012 he died,
Unknown to all,
Even to all computer systems…
Yet, he did not vanish from the country :
His skeleton was still there :
And will remain a living monument…

A living skeleton…

From Covid if he had died,
And his death had remain’d unknown for years,
The virus exponentially would have explod’d :
From his body it would have fann’d
To the neighbouring flats,
Where Flat Indifference reign’d… 

Nay, there was no stopping the virus :
From beneath the door it would have leak’d.
Raging retribution would have rampag’d
Through the dwellings that ne’er car’d :
Say, how would they have far’d ?... 

To the retribution they would have fallen,
By the retributive malady stricken,
Not knowing from whence came the scourge,
Not knowing what struck them,
In spite of all precautions they had taken.

Expertly inspections would not have touch’d
The dwelling dismiss’d as non-existent :
“Vacant…”
Others would not have bother’d
About a “vacant” flat
When people were gasping for air,
Struggling for life
In nearby occupied ones…

Like the neighbours,
Health services would have strode coldly
Around the flat,
Tending to the living ones,
To those struggling…

Yet, the flat was NOT vacant :
‘Twas inhabit’d by a skeleton
That was dishing out ‘pon “humanity”
Posthumous reckoning of a rare kind…

The flat would have been a morgue,
A hotbed flinging out poetic justice
All around… 

What goes round comes round…

Even after his death,
The man’s retribution would have lash’d out
At those that had refus’d to help,
Had refus’d to care…

In one of the happiest countries,
An autopsy ‘pon a skeleton
That lay unknown among the living
For years…
Unclothing a skeleton
For doing an autopsy…

After a sober, forensic examination,
Placing the skeleton gently into a coffin :
Putting back even all the little bones :
Taking it all “reverently” to the cemetery
For a “dignified” burial.

Was a funeral service held ?
To which holy writings did one refer ?...
Were some posthumous speeches made ?...
Did they talk of compassion, humanism
Towards fellow humans ?...

If the neighbours had attend'd,
They would have nodd'd :
Ultimate irony...

What was the DATE of death ?!...
Don’t ye all shout at once,
If ye know the answer…
What was the precise DATE of death
Record’d ‘pon the death certificate ?...
“In or about a certain YEAR ??”…

Yet, the dead had dish’d out his bill payments
For years
After that date,
That presum’d  “year” of death…
Though he consum’d nothing…

His pension had been cut off
After a few years of non-response.
Pension meant for the living
To the dead had been paid…

Yet, he still settl’d bills
For stuff he ne’er consum’d…
Even after death
He did his duty :
He settl’d his bills
Without arguing…
His bank account did not argue :
It settl’d the bills…

He left all the arguments
To someone else to do…

Burial of a skeleton…
Somewhat belat’dly,
But, still, a burial that was need’d…

Embarrassing would have been
Keeping the skeleton…
A permanent reminder of  ---
Ne’er mind :
Off to the cemetery !...

Ay, a burial that was somewhat overdue…
The story reach’d faraway shores :
It found its way into some sprawling net,
To be splash’d far and wide…
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--Soman Ragavan
--Mauritius (Indian Ocean)

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Please see the following about Covid in Norway :
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Norway 
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