"I Drift In And Out of People's Lives" by Erin Hanson

I Drift In And Out of People's Lives by Erin Hanson


I drift in and out of people’s lives,

Like a feather in the breeze,

You never really know I’m there,

Until I start to leave,

I don’t make my connections deep,

Because I’m scared of what I’ll lose,

I don’t try to compete with anyone else,

And I’ll never make you choose,

I prefer to stick to the sidelines,

Because the spotlight hurts my eyes,

I hide behind a constant smile,

So you won’t know it’s a disguise,

People tend to forget I’m there,

When I’m in a crowded room,

I can disappear for days on end,

And I’m bound to do it soon,

Don’t worry if you notice I’m gone,

I never meant to stay,

But I know that you won’t miss me long,

I’ll be forgotten in a day.




** Remember to write down words you don't know in your journal and find out the definition!



SOME DEFINITIONS:


prefer: tend to choose.

disguise: to give yourself/someone a different look to hide their identity.

1. Stream of Consciousness

What is stream of consciousness?

The poem above is slightly different than the last two poems we've seen! This is because this poem, in simple terms, tells the story of someone's life through their thoughts.

This is a literary device called stream of consciousness.

Hanson does a good job of expressing this feelings and thoughts through rhyme and rhythm, while still maintaining a natural atmosphere.


EXAMPLE:

"...I don't make my connections deep/

Because I'm scared of what I'll lose..."

2. Characterisation

What is characterisation?

Characterisation is the creation/construction of a fictional character. This includes all elements of the character's life journey:

  1. interests

  2. fears

  3. priorities

  4. habits

  5. hobbies


Direct characterisation : when an author (or poet) describes a character in a straightforward manner.

EXAMPLE:

"I don't try to compete with anyone else..."

= not ambitious or competitive.



Indirect characterisation : when an author (or poet) describes a character through showing us their thoughts, actions and dialogue.

EXAMPLE:

"But I know that you won't miss me long/ I'll be forgotten in a day."

= very low self-esteem.

Questions to think/talk about:

  • What do you think is the significance of always capitalising the first letter of the poem's lines? (NOTE: in English Literature, even incorrect grammar can mean something!)

  • How does Hanson's use of stream of consciousness contribute to direct characterisation? What about indirect characterisation?

  • Do you resonate with this poem? Why or why not?