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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Unfinished Ghost Story (2)" by Wanda Coleman weaves a narrative that blurs the lines between the mundane realities of office life and the supernatural, creating a haunting tale that delves into themes of memory, alienation, and the unseen impacts individuals can have on a space. The poem employs a conversational tone, gradually unveiling the story of a woman who, despite her physical absence, continues to exert a presence within her former office. The setting is established with an observation of change: "this used to be her office." The chilliness of the room, alongside the removal of equipment, signals a transition, not just physical but also metaphysical. The description of the woman as "quiet," "a good worker," yet "eccentric" and "a loner," paints her as an individual who did not quite fit the conventional mold of the workplace. Her distinctive style and "independent attitude" are recalled with a mix of curiosity and discomfort, suggesting that her deviation from the norm made her a subject of fascination and perhaps, misunderstanding. The mention of "some cheap perfume" lingering in the air introduces a sensory connection to the absent woman, a ghostly trace of her presence that fills the void left by her departure. The subsequent reports of the word processor activating on its own and typing without a human operator further blur the boundary between the living and the spectral, suggesting that the woman's spirit, or at least the memory of her, remains active within the office. The sightings by Lopez, the security guard, and the disturbances reported by the mail room staff introduce a communal aspect to the haunting, indicating that the woman's presence is not confined to her former workspace but permeates the building. The responses to these occurrences range from attempts to rationalize to outright fear, highlighting the varying degrees of sensitivity and belief among the office workers regarding the supernatural. The resolution, a "corporate exorcism," is presented with a mix of seriousness and irony. The notion that exorcism has become "routine" in the corporate environment is a satirical commentary on the dehumanizing aspects of office culture, where even the most extraordinary events can be reduced to procedural tasks. This twist also reflects on the ways in which corporations seek to control and sanitize their environments, erasing individuality and quelling disturbances, whether they be of a mundane or otherworldly nature. Through "Unfinished Ghost Story (2)," Coleman crafts a narrative that is both eerie and reflective, prompting readers to consider the ways in which individuals leave their mark on places and the lengths to which society goes to manage or erase those impressions. The poem serves as a metaphor for the struggle for recognition and remembrance in a world that often values conformity and productivity over individual expression and the human soul's enduring impact beyond the physical realm.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OFFICE POLITICS by WANDA COLEMAN WHITE, WHITE COLLARS by DENIS JOHNSON A DEATH AT THE OFFICE by TED KOOSER OFFICE PARTY: DISTAFF VIEW by KAREN SWENSON THIRTY BOB A WEEK by JOHN DAVIDSON THE CLERKS by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON |
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