The Cockroach by Kevin Halligan:

Poem: "The Cockroach" by Kevin Halligan

I watched a giant cockroach start to pace,
Skirting a ball of dust that rode the floor.
At first he seemed quite satisfied to trace
A path between the wainscot and the door,

But soon he turned to jog in crooked rings,
Circling the rusty table leg and back,
And flipping right over to scratch his wings—
As if the victim of a mild attack

Of restlessness that worsened over time.
After a while, he climbed an open shelf
And stopped. He looked uncertain where to go.
Was this due payment for some vicious crime

A former life had led to? I don’t know
Except I thought I recognised myself.

Poem Overview

• Theme of self-reflection and existential restlessness: The poem uses the cockroach’s erratic behavior as a metaphor for the speaker's own feelings of uncertainty and restlessness. The cockroach’s movements mirror a deeper, existential struggle.

• Human vs. animal behavior: The poem draws parallels between the speaker’s inner turmoil and the cockroach’s actions, suggesting that the creature’s seemingly random movements reflect human thoughts and emotions.

• Existential questioning: The speaker contemplates whether the cockroach's actions are tied to karma or fate, as suggested by the reference to "payment for some vicious crime." This introduces a sense of philosophical introspection.

Key Quotes

• "I watched a giant cockroach start to pace."

• "Was this due payment for some vicious crime / A former life had led to?"

• "Except I thought I recognised myself."

Underlying Meanings and Themes

• Self-awareness and recognition: The line "I thought I recognised myself" suggests the speaker sees aspects of themselves in the cockroach’s restlessness. This points to the speaker's self-awareness and possible dissatisfaction with their own life or actions.

• Existential restlessness and uncertainty: The cockroach's erratic movements symbolize the speaker's mental restlessness, a feeling of being lost or aimless, unsure of where to go next.

• Cycle of life and consequences: The reference to "payment for some vicious crime" suggests the idea of karma or fate, pondering if past actions lead to current suffering, as the cockroach may be paying for something from a former life.

Key Quotes

• "I don’t know / Except I thought I recognised myself."

• "Was this due payment for some vicious crime?"

Poetic Techniques

• Metaphor: The cockroach's behavior is a metaphor for the speaker's own feelings of confusion and aimlessness. The cockroach's path mirrors the speaker’s internal struggle with direction and purpose.

• Imagery: The image of the cockroach pacing and circling "the rusty table leg" and "scratching his wings" is vivid, evoking a sense of unease and discomfort.

• Personification: The cockroach is given human-like qualities, such as the "restlessness" and the idea of "payment for some vicious crime," ascribing human traits to an insect and deepening the philosophical inquiry into existence.

• Rhetorical question: The line "Was this due payment for some vicious crime" serves as a rhetorical question that challenges the speaker’s (and the reader's) understanding of fate and consequences.

Key Quotes

• "Circling the rusty table leg and back."

• "As if the victim of a mild attack / Of restlessness that worsened over time."

Literary Devices

• Allusion: The cockroach’s erratic behavior is possibly an allusion to the idea of karma or fate, referencing the idea that past actions (even in a former life) can have consequences.

• Juxtaposition: The juxtaposition of the mundane, everyday act of watching a cockroach with deep existential questions adds a layer of complexity, elevating the trivial to a moment of philosophical reflection.

• Symbolism: The cockroach symbolizes a restless spirit or a lost soul, trapped in an endless cycle of confusion or frustration.

• Irony: There is an ironic twist when the speaker recognizes themselves in the cockroach's behavior, highlighting the absurdity of human existential questioning.

Key Quotes

• "Was this due payment for some vicious crime / A former life had led to?"

• "Except I thought I recognised myself."

Structure

• Form: The poem is written in free verse, which mirrors the disordered nature of the cockroach’s movements and the speaker's inner turmoil. The lack of a strict structure emphasizes the themes of confusion and aimlessness.

• Pacing: The poem starts slow with the detailed observation of the cockroach’s movements, but the pace quickens as the speaker begins to reflect on their own life, suggesting an increasing internal agitation.

• Tone: The tone is reflective, self-aware, and slightly detached. The speaker seems both intrigued and uncomfortable with their realization that they see themselves in the cockroach.