Perpetual Light and Grief

 The Properties of Perpetual Light is a hauntingly provocative collection. Aguon writes from the perspective of a Guam citizen, often illuminating some aspects of life between world powers that we don’t think about. He also reflects on his writings on life, love, and loss perspectives. What I found most interesting about The Properties of Perpetual Light, however; are his haunting reflections upon loss. 

Call me nihilistic or pessimistic or whatever, but Aguon writes so elegantly about his experience with life and loss. Especially about the loss of his father. As someone who has experienced a lot of loss and has seen the effects of it on others, I find his reflections incredibly comforting. He doesn’t reflect on his time with cynicism or guilt. Instead, he seems to reflect almost amicably on his past. As though his past self and present self are working together to create a complete picture. When he writes about his father’s death, He writes about pain: “That when we are in pain, we inflict pain. When we can no longer breathe, we grab other peoples’ air.” Grief is an arduous journey to go on, each day is a new time to learn and grow and develop. Yet when he writes about his father’s death, he does not blame his past self, and he talks about his time of mourning although lonely, as a time of wonder and exploration of his own identity. Looking back on grief and understanding it not just as a time of sadness but also as a time for growth is something that many people do not accomplish in their lives. Like the saying: “Time heals all wounds” time can also change how we view the loss of a loved one or of a period of mourning. I’m glad that Augon is able to take this time and reflect upon it with new eyes. Moreover, his mention of his sister and the hardships that she toiled through is also significant. Being able to look outside yourself during a time when the world feels like it's against you is a trait that I don’t think a nine-year-old would have. I also think it's particularly healing that Augon uses his new knowledge and is able to turn it around to find his sister’s pain.

Despite all the suffering that Aguon had seen, from his family to the leper colony in Guam, to the orphan children in poverty, he still seems to find the positive. He finds joy in just living. He finds joy in the time in so many of his short stories. Which to reflect on life so joyously makes time seem a little less scary.