Choices - “The Garden”
The speaker and his/her partner had the option of surrendering either Sluggo or Mphahlele. They settled on bequeathing Sluggo and retaining Mphahlele. The decision was made after taking into account the cats’ dispositions. They remained with Mphahlele, “For in less tolerant hands, Mphahlele…might be abused, or abandoned…or worse.” The partners’ choice validates that they took an interest in Mphalele’s comfort notwithstanding his obnoxious predispositions.
Execution - “Fragment of Ancient skull”
The young man referred to in “Fragment of Ancient skull” was killed by ‘the civil guard.’ The speaker explains, “The civil guard, delighted to practice,take him outside & shoot him./His hat blows over the wall.” The execution is a penance for repudiating the summon to go to war and contest on behalf of his country.
Death - “Crossing the River”
“Crossing the River” touches on the practicality of passing away. The Speaker ponders, “I… wonder what it will be like/when one of us dies.” The speaker’s pondering indicates that he is cognizant that someday either he or his partner will die. Death is inescapable for all human beings, but it is puzzling for one cannot precisely forecast when he/she will come to an end.
