An Analysis Of Liminality, Heaven, By Neil Hilborn

Introduction
Liminality also known by its alternative title ‘Heaven’ was written and performed by the well-known spoken poetry artist Neil Hilborn in April 2014 at the Soap Boxing Poetry Slam in St Paul, Minnesota. Hilborn who is better known for his poems titled OCD and Joey both of which became viral sensations upon release generally focuses on poetry that discusses mental health, loss and sacrifice. Liminality also focuses on such themes with the poem itself written in narrative form, detailing a car crash in which both the narrator and his lover die. The work incorporates a wide range of both language and performance techniques used to portray the message and add depth to the piece. The main literary techniques used include metaphor, simile
This is reflective of the storyline in which both the narrator and his lover can be said to ‘pass over’ into a heaven described not as a place but as the last few moments before death. The poems centres around themes of death and dying but focuses mainly on the idea of heaven as an accumulation of one’s life rather than a destination found after death. The opening quote "The best way to get to heaven is to take it with you" by Henry Drummond, supports the belief that heaven is not an endpoint reached by death but rather a culmination of life, combining what we value most. It’s something we carry with us through life and is constantly changing to reflect our experiences. Death in Liminality is not described with the traditional connotations of fear and an overwhelming sense of loss but instead as an event of beauty and as a moment shared between two people who love each other. The message of the poem could be described as somewhat ambiguous and with all poetry left up to the audience to interpret. However common interpretations focus of the understanding and acceptance of death and the importance of cherishing life and loved ones while we have the chance. Rather than seeking a paradise the poem expresses the importance of recognising the value our lives currently have and how at the moment of death we will understand the significance of the journey over the perceived value of the
This generally adds to the performance by keeping the audience engaged however it can also become an unnecessary distraction. Body language is generally used to involve the audience in the performance and give of a sense of confidence. Different facial expressions and movements can also be used to add to the story with certain movements or expressions used to represent events or actions described in the poem. In Liminality however the use of body movement felt overused and distracting at some points. The movement used by the performer didn’t always add to the message conveyed by the language features and at some points became disrupting by providing and unnecessary point of focus that took attention away from the language being used by the performer. This was especially prevalent within the first few stanzas where the pace was significantly increased making it difficult to comprehend the words being used. The movement used in this portion of the poem increased the difficulty for the audience to follow along. While some movement is necessary to create a more engaging performance a lower degree of action in this section alone may have aided the audience in understanding the scenes being described and comprehending the overall