Portable paradise

by Rodger Robinson

What is this poem about ?

The poem shows how a person can carry inner peace and strength during hardship. The grandmother’s advice to keep a hidden “portable paradise” highlights hope, comfort, and resilience that come from within.

Theme — Inner strength

The “portable paradise” symbolises a personal inner resource that helps the speaker stay strong.

Theme — Resilience

The poem emphasises endurance, showing how inner paradise helps someone survive difficult moments.

And if I …….. then I am ………

And if I speak of paradise then I am speaking of my grand mother - Uses a conditional clause to show paradise is personal, not abstract. The direct link to his grandmother creates emotional intimacy, suggesting her wisdom and love shape his idea of comfort and resilience. Reinforces the theme that paradise is internal, carried through memory and family connection.

who told me ………. person concealed ……… shed say

who told me to always carry it on my person concealed that way they can’t steal it - The imperative shows the grandmother’s protective wisdom, stressing that inner paradise is personal and fragile. The pronoun introduces an external threat, implying the world can take material things but not inner peace. The negative modality reinforces that paradise is safe when kept within. Highlights the theme of resilience — true peace is internal.

if life puts you ……..in your pocket

If life puts you under pressure trace its ridges in your pocket - The imperative encourages a grounding physical action, showing how sensory touch can create comfort in stress. The imagery of ridges suggests something textured and tangible, implying paradise can be carried as a small, reassuring symbol. Highlights the theme of inner strength.

hum …….. breath

hum its anthem under your breath - The metaphor of an anthem suggests a personal source of identity, hope, and strength. The act of humming implies quiet resilience and inner comfort. The phrase “under your breath” adds introspection, reinforcing that this inner paradise is private, protected, and carried within.

If your stresses ……… daily

if your stresses are sustained and daily - The adjectives “sustained” and “daily” show stress as constant and ongoing. This highlights the poem’s theme of resilience, suggesting that hardship requires inner strength. The conditional implies that even under daily pressure, the speaker offers a way to cope by relying on the portable paradise within.

an empty ……. or hovel

an empty room be it hotel, hostel or hovel - The listing of different rooms shows that the setting doesn’t matter - refuge can be found anywhere. The contrast highlights that paradise isn’t tied to luxury but to one’s ability to create inner comfort. Reinforces the theme of resilience and finding peace even in difficult circumstances.

empty …… a desk

empty your paradise onto a desk - The imperative encourages turning inner refuge into something tangible. The desk symbolises creativity and everyday life, suggesting that paradise can be expressed through writing, work, or personal creation and shows inner peace

…..the lamp on ……. hope …….

Shine the lamp on it like fresh hope of morning - The use of the simile compares light to suggesting renewal and optimism. The imagery of light breaking darkness symbolises rediscovered hope and the possibility of starting again. Reinforces the idea that inner paradise can reignite strength even in difficult moments.

Theme — Memory as refuge

Memory and imagination create a safe inner space that offers comfort when life is harsh.

Theme — Paradise within

Paradise is shown as internal, not a place — something personal that cannot be taken away.