The poem "Lament" intricately portrays the journey of an AIDS sufferer, capturing both the physical decline and the psychological turmoil experienced by those afflicted. Written in loose iambic pentameter, it employs rhyming couplets that subtly underpin the narrative without drawing overt attention. Only upon closer examination does the skillful structure reveal itself, underscoring the depth of its craftsmanship.

Opening Lines and Initial Struggles

The poem begins with a stark declaration: "Your dying was a difficult enterprise." In its initial phase, the afflicted individual is preoccupied with mundane concerns, showing little outward transformation. Despite the illness, a sense of "hope" remains, and the person maintains a demeanor that is "courteous still." However, as the condition progresses, the sufferer is beset by "nightmare" and "outrage"—emotions stemming from their exclusion from life's everyday pleasures. The inability to "feel summer on the skin" confines them to the metaphorical "Canada of a hospital room," illustrating an isolation that is both physical and emotional. Gunn masterfully conveys this estrangement through vivid imagery that depicts the growing disconnection.

The Progression of Distance

As the disease advances, the sufferer's "distance" from their former self becomes increasingly pronounced. Physically, they grow "thin," yet their cognitive faculties remain sharp and engaged. They continue writing messages to friends, and even reconcile with their "grey father" after years of estrangement. Gunn endeavors to encapsulate the essence of the individual, reminiscing about their past wit and humor. Lines like "I was so tickled by your mind’s light touch/ I couldn’t sleep, you made me laugh too much" highlight a contrast between their vibrant past and their current, diminished state. Through these juxtapositions, Gunn emphasizes the poignancy of their decline.

Facing Mortality

Confronted with the inevitability of death, the AIDS sufferer meets it with a courage marked by simplicity. They endure "equably, without complaint,/ unwhimpering," maintaining a "lack of self-love" that, though it hindered worldly achievements, endeared them to their companions. Despite the encroaching finality, there lingers an air of "uncompleted" about them, as if their journey was interrupted prematurely.

The Final Stages

The culmination of the disease sees the body succumb, with machines sustaining life as they drown in their own "fluids." Gunn portrays this demise with poignant simplicity: "And so you slept, and died, your skin gone grey,/ Achieving your completeness, in a way." Here, "completeness" is defined not as defeat, but as a triumph over the inevitable—an acceptance of mortality. The speaker reflects on the individual, their feelings toward the deceased, and the tragic betrayal by their own body, which they never found appealing. Gunn uses a metaphor of the AIDS virus as a "guest," implying an intimate, unavoidable bond between the sufferer and their illness.

Concluding Reflections

The poem's final line reinforces the "enterprise" introduced at its opening. The victim has navigated "This difficult, tedious, painful enterprise," an exploration both arduous and profound. The adjectives "difficult, tedious, painful" succinctly encapsulate the experience, merging the stages of the disease into a cohesive and haunting narrative.