Light and Shadow
Palindrome
NOON street
a carriage picked me up at midnight in 1881
Its chauffeur didn't ask my destination
nor did he have navigation
We started at the street sign
NOON, it's translucent
He steered the carriage towards 1:30 o'clock
constantly
as if that were the only guidance of our journey
I fell asleep because of my surroundings' silence
and counted the streets we passed in my dream
The chauffeur waked me up at an intersection
He pointed at a street sign barely visible on the lamp post
Sir, your stop, on time
NOON street
at midnight in 2112
Puzzled ME asked him
Didn't we start from NOON street?
Yes, sir, because PALINDROME is in your DNA
GPT
The poem titled "Palindrome" explores the concept of time, journeys, and the cyclical nature of life. It incorporates the idea of a palindrome, which is a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward. The poem utilizes this concept metaphorically to suggest the cyclical nature of life and how certain elements repeat themselves.
The poem begins with the speaker being picked up by a carriage on NOON street at midnight in the year 1881. The chauffeur does not inquire about the destination or possess any navigation, indicating a lack of control or certainty in the journey. The reference to NOON being translucent suggests a blending of day and night, further emphasizing the theme of opposites and cycles.
The chauffeur guides the carriage towards 1:30 o'clock, implying a specific direction and time. This becomes the sole guidance for the journey, suggesting a singular focus or purpose. The speaker falls asleep due to the silence of the surroundings and dreams about counting the streets they pass, implying a disconnected state of consciousness.
At an intersection, the chauffeur wakes the speaker up and points to a barely visible street sign. The street is revealed to be NOON street once again, but now it is midnight in the year 2112. This juxtaposition of time and place highlights the cyclical nature of life, where the journey ultimately returns to the starting point.
The poem concludes with the speaker expressing confusion and asking the chauffeur if they started from NOON street. The chauffeur confirms this and reveals the reason for the repetition: PALINDROME is in the speaker's DNA. This suggests that the cyclical nature of life, represented by the palindrome, is an inherent part of the speaker's identity and existence.
Overall, "Palindrome" explores the themes of time, repetition, and the cyclical nature of life. The use of the palindrome concept adds depth to the poem's exploration of these themes, highlighting the circularity and interconnectedness of human experiences.
