Poem Analysis: After Minor Surgery By Linda Pastan

Words: 570
Pages: 3

After Minor Surgery by Linda Pastan presents the beginning of aging as a signal to a battle that has already been lost. With a light cynical tone Pastan weaves the event of a minor surgery as a “dress rehearsal” (line 1) as to convey the notion that every human being will have to face the ultimate disease and killer of society: death. The imperfections of man allows for multiple close encounters with the end of our short existence here on earth. The first stanza follows the simile of the body as a “constant lover” to depict the nature of living beings to extend their lives as long as possible. With the uncertainty of death comes an uneasiness that can be easily avoided by “flirt[ing]” (line 4) or in better terms battling against the unstoppable