I enjoyed reading Rhys, "I Used to Live Here Once," the story brought back memories of the feelings and thoughts I had when I went back to visit the place of my birth. The joy I felt being back in this place which held such fond memories and at the same time feeling sad because the place had changed so much. Seeing the place which held so many memories was now nothing like the former place, it was almost unrecognizable except for the tree in the front yard and the dirt road. The house was no longer there it had been replaced by a new one.
The woman in the poem has returned to a place that held memories for her. The way in which the poem is written there seems to be both good and bad memories. I feel that she appears to be hesitant when approaching the house. The memories that the house hold are unpleasant. The house painted white symbolizes that there are new memories and hers have been covered over and they no longer exist.
The reference to Europeans in the West Indies gives the impression that she is a native of the West Indies. This place was very familiar to her. Why did she choose to revisit this place? The writer makes it feel like she had a need to reconnect with someone or something. I get the feeling that she is not only observing the scenery but she is revisiting emotions she once experienced when she was there before. She is remembering her past pleasure as well as her past pain.
Her presence brought a chill to the children who could not see her. I got the impression that she was not there but her presence was. I like the way Rhys ended the poem with, "that was the first time she knew." What did she know? That she was not alive, or that this place no longer exists except in her mind?
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