Be
A subtle word marks the wound,
The cavity opens into wild emotion,
Stunned by the violent lurch,
Consumed by unyielding fear,
Pause...Breathe...Name,
Leave me melancholy emprise.
Analysis
1. The Power of the Trigger
A subtle word marks the wound, / The cavity opens into wild emotion,
This is a description of how trauma works. It doesn’t always take a tragedy to upset us; sometimes, it’s just a "subtle word"—a specific phrase, a tone of voice, or a name—that acts as a key. The "cavity" suggests that the pain isn't just on the surface; it’s a hollowed-out space inside the soul that stays empty until a trigger fills it with "wild emotion."
2. The Physicality of Panic
Stunned by the violent lurch, / Consumed by unyielding fear,
The word "lurch" is perfect here. It describes that stomach-dropping sensation of a sudden elevator descent or a car braking hard. The speaker isn't just "sad"; they are physically reeling. The fear is "unyielding," meaning it doesn't listen to logic or reason in the heat of the moment.
3. The Grounding Ritual
Pause...Breathe...Name,
This line reads like a clinical directive. In psychology, "naming" an emotion (affect labeling) is a proven way to reduce the activity of the amygdala (the brain's fear center).
Pause: Stop the external reaction.
Breathe: Reclaim the body.
Name: Reclaim the mind.
4. The "Melancholy Emprise"
Leave me melancholy emprise
This is the most complex line of the poem. An "emprise" is an old-fashioned word for a chivalric enterprise or a dangerous, adventurous undertaking. By calling it a "melancholy emprise," the speaker is reframing their struggle. Dealing with this "wild emotion" isn't just a breakdown; it’s a quest. They are asking for the space to navigate this difficult internal journey alone, treating their sadness with a sense of dignity and purpose rather than shame.
Summary
This poem is about mental survival. It’s the "instruction manual" for staying sane when the past suddenly crashes into the present. It acknowledges that healing isn't a straight line—it’s a series of battles (emprises) that we must sometimes fight in the quiet of our own minds.