Analyzing Rhetorical Techniques. Simple yet Intriguing: Rhetorical Analysis of Mary Tallmountain’s There Is No Word for Goodbye

Simple yet Intriguing: Rhetorical Analysis of Mary Tallmountain’s There Is No Word for Goodbye
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Simple yet Intriguing: Rhetorical Analysis of Mary Tallmountain’s There Is No Word for Goodbye
Only a few words are able to capture one’s attention and leave a mark of nostalgia in their hearts. One such word is goodbye. This word was quite intriguing to Mary Tallmountain to a point when she decided to explore it through her poem “There Is No Word for Goodbye.” In this poem, she seeks to communicate a simple yet fascinating explication of the term goodbye. While reading the poem, one is not only led on a path of revelation, but also a path of deeper understanding. What does it mean when we say goodbye? Are we truly apart even when we are geographically distant from each other? The above are some of the questions that arise as one reads the poem. There is also the challenge of making the most of the time we have with those around us. To help showcase the above, this paper will offer an in-depth analysis of Mary Tallmountain’s poem and seek to uncover some of the techniques she uses to deliver her message.
First of all, the title of the poem is quite intriguing. It may look simple with a subtle feel, however, it makes one think over the words. One cannot be faulted to wonder whether Tallmountain meant that no word could explain the term goodbye or that no word could contextualize or aid with the comprehension of the action of bidding someone goodbye. Or, one could also have the idea that she meant that there is no word that captures the essence of saying goodbye because as it is explained in the poem, people never really part even after they have said their goodbyes. “We always think you’re coming back, I but if you don’t, we’ll see you some place else.” So, what exactly does goodbye mean, or what can be used to explain the term? Well, as the last line indicates, “There is no word for goodbye.”
As one continues to read the poem, one gathers the understanding that maybe Tallmountain’s goal or objective was not to offer a definition or understanding of the term. In a conversation, near the end of the poem, with a person by the name of Sokoya, Tallmountain lays bare her intention all along. First of all, she asked Sokoya “Wha...