On the Poem, 'Mementos, 1

On “Mementos, 1” In W. D. Snodgrass’s “Mementos, 1”, we are taken through a wide range of emotions sparked by the speaker’s memories of a lost love when he stumbles upon her photograph taken when they had first met. The speaker reminisces about his journey through life with this woman as well as her image. He appears at times to be talking to the memory of this former love, as well as this traveled and …showed first 75 words of 546 total…

…showed last 75 words of 546 total…it: Before we met.” (22) He softens yet again, wistfully realizing that for better or worse, this is what made him what he is. These memories, embodied by this picture, are too heavy to be cast aside along with the other dead husks of his past. The photograph is returned to its place, ready to be called upon again when he next needs to examine his life and the course that brought him to this point