Poem Analysis - The Last Decision

Introduction: A Weary Surrender

Maya Angelou's "The Last Decision" is a poignant and ultimately heartbreaking poem about aging and the surrender of life's simple pleasures. The poem begins with a frustrated tone, gradually deepening into a sense of weariness and resignation. The mood shifts from annoyance with physical limitations to a profound exhaustion with existence itself. This culminates in the speaker's decision to relinquish life, marking a stark and final surrender. The poem's power lies in its simple language and the relatable frustrations that lead to such a drastic conclusion.

The Inevitable Decline: Mortality and Frustration

One of the central themes of the poem is mortality and the frustrating limitations it imposes. The poem begins with a lament about failing eyesight ("The print is too small, distressing me"). This is not merely a physical inconvenience but a symbolic barrier to knowledge and enjoyment. Similarly, the second stanza focuses on the speaker's inability to enjoy food, a basic human need and pleasure. The imagery of "swallowing it hot or force it down cold" and the feeling of it "sitting in my throat" suggests a struggle against the body's natural decline. These physical limitations serve as constant reminders of the speaker's advancing age and impending death.

Disconnect and Isolation: A World Unheard

The theme of isolation is subtly introduced in the third stanza. The speaker's inability to hear their children's concerns ("They stand at my bed and move their lips,/and I cannot hear one single word") creates a sense of disconnect from loved ones and the world around them. This is not necessarily a physical ailment alone, but could also represent an emotional detachment, a weariness with the burdens of family life. The phrase "I'd rather give up listening" suggests that the effort required to engage with others has become too great, amplifying the speaker's feeling of being alone in their experience.

The Weight of Living: Existential Exhaustion

The poem culminates in the theme of existential weariness. The final stanza expands beyond physical limitations to encompass the mental and emotional toll of life. The speaker describes life as "too busy, wearying me" and expresses exhaustion with the constant "Questions and answers and heavy thought." The lines "I've subtracted and added and multiplied,/and all my figuring has come to naught" suggest a life spent trying to make sense of the world, only to find it ultimately meaningless. This sense of futility leads to the final, devastating decision to "give up living."

Symbols of Decline: Print, Food, and Voice

The poem employs several potent symbols. The "print" that is "too small" symbolizes not just fading eyesight but also a diminishing ability to comprehend and engage with the world. The "food" that "revolts" represents a loss of basic pleasures and a growing disconnect from physical needs and desires. Most importantly, the inability to hear the "single word" spoken by her children represents a break-down in communication, a symbol for isolation. The polliwogs symbolize a chaotic world of change, and the way the polliwogs are "wriggling" evokes the speaker's feeling of restlessness and discomfort. The cumulative effect of these symbols emphasizes the speaker's overall sense of decline and detachment from life.

Finality and Resignation: An Inescapable Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Last Decision" is a profoundly moving poem that explores the themes of mortality, isolation, and existential weariness. Through vivid imagery and simple language, Maya Angelou captures the speaker's gradual surrender to the burdens of aging and the ultimate decision to relinquish life. The poem's power lies in its unflinching portrayal of the physical and emotional toll of existence, leaving the reader to contemplate the weight of life and the inevitability of death. Is this a poem of depression and despair, or a powerful assertion of self-determination in the face of insurmountable odds? This remains an open question and adds to the poem's lasting impact.