The Speaker

The speaker in "Antidotes to Fear of Death" confronts her mortality through unusual means. To assuage her death anxiety, she takes stargazing one step further by claiming that she literally "[eats] the stars" (2-3). This shows that she relates to phenomena in the universe in an embodied and lyrical way. Her other antidotes to fear of death include stirring herself into the primordial elements of the universe and lying down or walking on earth. Overall, the speaker demonstrates a holistic view of existence and her place in it.

The Stars

The stars have a distinct presence in the poem. They nourish the speaker and help her contextualize her place in the universe. When the speaker consumes the stars, they taste "pepper hot and sharp," showing their strong sensory attraction (7). Elson juxtaposes this description with the "light of all the not yet stars / drifting like a bright mist...