Stopping Em

A Reading of Non-stop by Em Mendoza


The poem gives me an image of a clock to associate with the exposition. The representation of the hand on the first stanza and the other hand on the second stanza makes a fit for the two hands of a clock.
The utterer in the poem is quite indistinctive. The line /from eight to five/ gives a very feeble hint about the character. Thus, the personality of the character engaged in the experience provokes very little effect. He is merely describing that he labours every minute, but fails to evoke feelings how he spent his labouring. Lines such as /Struggling to cross the/ Distance between hours/All the things that/ I am measured/ do not give an ignition to the reader’s mind, since they are written in abstract.
The last stanza, although portrays a great torment by the crucified and cursed hands, is less evocative. It doesn’t paint a clear picture of what the poem really wants to say; the insight is not properly articulated. Edith Tiempo, in her book Poetry through Image and Statement, states that what makes an object poetic is the idea or insight into the human condition that the particular object generates in the poem, and which is consequently evoked in the reader as articulated properly.
The irregular pattern of the poem may be improved by condensing the lines. The poet may refer to what he wants to clarify or emphasize in his subject or material.