The speaker in "The Layers" is no stranger to solitude, or feeling isolated from his peers and surroundings. It can be a lonely road for an old soul, or a yogi, or just some retiree getting up in age. In this case, the speaker has witnessed many of his loved ones fall away as he's trekked a course into desolate territory. At times, this gets to him emotionally as he faces some hard choices.
Questions About Isolation
- In what ways does the speaker appear to be a lone wolf?
- How has his long life contributed to his isolation?
- Does the speaker have any friends left (other than the cloud)? How could this affect him?
- What seems to motivate him when he's lost and alone?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
According to "The Layers," with great wisdom comes great personal sacrifice (the old good news-bad news scenario).
It's okay to be alone, especially if you become a better person and live forever. (Hey—isn't that the vampire dilemma? Well, maybe not the better person part…)