Review of Portal of Opportunity (Sunday 8th October 2000)

Portal of Opportunity captures a poignant emotional moment in the poet’s life—a liminal space between past efforts and future possibilities, between places, identities, and inner desires. It’s a raw, honest reflection on restlessness, longing, and the bittersweet tension of change.

The poem opens with a paradox:

“Had a really great night
In fact it was so great
I felt thoroughly miserable”

This juxtaposition immediately conveys the complexity of human experience—the interplay of joy and melancholy, fulfillment and loss. The speaker is caught in a moment where something wonderful exists, yet the imminent departure from it casts a shadow:

“At the prospect of having to leave it all behind
And go to Australia, damn!”

This abrupt “damn!” carries a tone of frustration and resistance, emphasizing the emotional weight of leaving a place and life that finally feels right.

The poem reveals a recurring cycle of ambition and displacement:

“Just as it starts to get good here
I put the time in, turn everything around
And then I don’t stick around long enough
To reap the rewards of all my hard work”

This confession of restlessness is deeply relatable. The poet recognizes a pattern of moving on too soon, of chasing “greener pastures,” which ironically means not fully harvesting the fruits of past efforts. This sense of impermanence and unfinished business permeates the piece.

The relationship with London is personified beautifully:

“But London doesn’t want to let me go
And she has lured me to stay behind before”

London becomes almost a seductive force—both a place of distraction and a binding influence. The poet’s yearning for Australia, the “original dream,” stands in contrast to the seductive pull of familiar surroundings, illustrating the inner tug-of-war between comfort and aspiration.

A central motif of the poem is the idea of the “portal” or “window of opportunity”:

“Momentary portal of transformation
Which if stepped through
Irreversibly transforms the course of one’s life”

This image of a fleeting gateway to profound change is compelling. The poet mourns a missed chance in the past, but holds onto hope that “now I believe is here again / Another momentary portal of opportunity / A second chance.” The language here conveys both urgency and possibility, reminding readers that life often offers multiple chances to shift course.

The final lines reveal the speaker’s emotional and physical context—“deeply ensconced in London living,” feeling the weight of the “treadmill of survival” and the dreariness of “cold, and the rain / And the miserable London grey.” This grounding in sensory detail heightens the poem’s sense of confinement and longing for freedom.

Stylistically, the poem’s free verse form and conversational tone create intimacy and immediacy, inviting readers into the poet’s internal dialogue. The lack of punctuation and enjambment mirrors the flow of restless thoughts and emotional turbulence.

Conclusion

Portal of Opportunity is a deeply personal meditation on change, missed chances, and the cyclical nature of hope and hesitation. The poet’s honest vulnerability and vivid imagery make this a compelling exploration of how we grapple with transitions—both geographic and spiritual—and the elusive nature of timing in our lives. It’s a reminder that opportunities often return, even when we least expect them, and that transformation is always within reach if we are willing to step through the portal.