This poem is beautifully referenced in Mark Campbell's libretto for _As One_, an opera about the life and self acceptance of a trans woman, Hannah. Her class is also assigned the poem to study. This part destroys me every time:
*Hannah before, Hannah after, Conductor, Quartet:*
“…Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind…”
*Hannah before:*
I am the lone,
Dissenting voice
In the classroom.
I rise and declare
To a sea of non-islanders:
“It isn’t true,
I am an island.”
With all the experience
Of my fourteen years,
I see no other life
Than one apart,
Alone.
I need no one.
No one needs me.
I consigned myself
To my own island long ago.
Long ago.
I argue, and,
Satisfied by
My brilliant discourse on independence,
Sit back down.
The classroom is silent.
The teacher seems impressed.
(Or was she concerned?)
*Hannah before, Hannah after, Conductor, Quartet:* “…Any man’s death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind…”
*Hannah before:* I am the lone, Dissenting voice In the classroom. I rise and declare To a sea of non-islanders: “It isn’t true, I am an island.”
With all the experience Of my fourteen years, I see no other life Than one apart, Alone.
I need no one. No one needs me. I consigned myself To my own island long ago. Long ago.
I argue, and, Satisfied by My brilliant discourse on independence, Sit back down. The classroom is silent. The teacher seems impressed. (Or was she concerned?)