David
Vanderhoff's Commentary
There were more nights like this than I ever want to remember. I
buried a number of memories from that farm. I am amazed that
Raychel, while she ran away from home, not only refused to bury them
but paraded them in her work. She always was my stronger sister.
Lance
Wagner's Commentary
There are two people whose
names Raychel refused to name in Terror Too Tranquil. I will
remedy that. The "you" in the second stanza is David
Vanderhoff. The "Him" in the fifth stanza is their
father. I am sure that will help you to evaluate the poem and
Raychel's connection to her family.
Painseeker
Reader Anis Nin's Commentary (06-12-2001)
David knew what this poem was about perhaps by the first two lines. I
am surprised that he somehow still sees his sister as the stronger of
will when it is clear that she truly never escaped into her freedom.
Perhaps the fact that she carried around these demons with her even in
her work reveal that she held a strong conviction toward herself
despite the facts that it was a battle she herself could not win. I
suppose David is correct in his thinking of his sister to having the
strongest of wills, because it takes a king to declare battle, but it
takes a warrior to walk away from a win harboring all their
convictions.
