Chris Green's Poem Walking Together What Remains

The fear of being forgotten is one fear that is shared by many people. Although the memories of people may be forgotten, the things that once belonged to them may still remain. Chris Green’s poem “Walking Together What Remains” symbolizes the walk through life that inevitably leads to being forgotten. Eric Natzke illustrates Green’s poem as if one is taking a walk. The interface changes the images horizontally on a short timer (Natzke quoted in Green). Naturally, when someone takes a walk, they tend to walk in a continuous straight line and they stop when they need to. Natzke illustrates this effect through the interface that helps Green portray the journey of life. Green starts his poem with the symbols of birth and beginning. He starts with a sub-note under the title: “[A] found poem from the first day of spring” (Green). The first day of spring symbolizes the day of birth when life begins. Green also writes about a burst balloon “once pink or blue for boy or girl” (Green). This quote symbolizes the part of one’s life as a child and the journey of youth.

He encounters “ivy” and “cedar” which are two plants that symbolize the strength of the youthful (Green). Green also encounters “wild strawberries” and “empty whipped light” which also symbolizes being wild, young, and innocent (Green). He demonstrates youth through these simple objects. Green then approaches, in his walk, the idea of growing older and approaching old age. He writes about “ocean spray” – in particular, Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail is his inspiration (Green). Cranberries are harvested in autumn. Just as spring symbolizes the beginning of life, autumn symbolizes that the end of life is