Nothing Says Great Poetry Like a Fairy Tale Spoof!

"an he says
kiss me just kiss me
once on the nose
well i screams
ya little green pervert
am i hitsm with my mop
an has ta flush
the toilet down three times
me
a princess"
This poem is probably my favorite poem we've read yet. It combines two of my favorite things: a fairy tale and a comedy. I honestly didn't expect the ending and it literally made me laugh out loud. Also the diction in this poem fit perfectly with the plot. I could perfectly picture Hazel wearing a bathroom attendant's outfit, leaning on one hip, and retelling this story to her friend Lavern. Even though the poem is broken up kind of funny, the story line still flows smoothly and keeps the humor steady throughout. This poem really reminds me of one of the more recent Disney movies, "The Princess and the Frog". The main plot is about a woman living in New Orleans who has worked hard all her life to own her own restaurant and really isn't interested in being a princess at all. Then when a handsome, exotic prince comes to town and is transformed into a frog, she kisses him in the attempt to turn him back into a man. However, the plan backfires and she herself becomes a frog. The main character of this movie has the same spunky attitude and disgust toward the frog that Hazel does in this poem. I wonder if maybe Disney took the idea for that movie from this poem. Either way I like the idea of a woman who seems strong and realistic like Hazel. My favorite line is for sure "well i screams ya little green pervert"! The poem is relatively short but I already have a good sense of the kind of woman Hazel is and I instantly liked her character. I would probably pass up the chance of being a princess too if it meant kissing some slimy frog that just came from the toilet.

"To His Coy Mistress" A Player from the 17th Century Shows Us How It's Done

"Let us roll all our strength and all
Our sweetness up into one ball,
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Thorough the iron gates of life."
When I was reading this poem I got the sense that something wasn't right. I mean what guy wants to spend forever admiring the beauty of one girl? Exactly. Apparently I'm not the only one who believes this either because as I turned the page to continue reading, in the margin of my book the comment "Basicaly he is trying to get him sum" was written. Though I might not have put it in those words this anonymous commenter is dead on. First he flatters her by praising her beauty and claiming that if he could he would just gaze at her and praise her forever. Then he points out the obvious that he does not have forever, so because of this they must be together right this instant. He is using the same method that guys today still use to get in a girl's pants. They compliment you, tell you they love you, and then insist you must do it right now because there is so much love and passion it would be wrong not to. The only thing this poet did that was a small step up from being a horny pig is that he wrote his pickup lines in poetic stanzas that sound very in love and romantic. It's sort of funny how this poem seems to be the exact opposite of the Shakespeare poem we read in this unit. The Shakespeare piece focuses on true love and honesty while this one just focuses on scoring with his mistress by giving out shallow compliments. Personally I'd take Shakespeare over Andrew Marvell any day.

"Getting Out" or Getting Worn Out? A Poem with an Exhausted Tone

"Exhausted, we gave up; escaped"
This poem's tone seemed to be exhausted or worn out. The first half seems to indicate that the couple became tired of trying to live together. The speaker says it was like they were inmates as if they were forced to be together and trapped in this unhappy marriage. As this continued they stopped speaking and their hearts grew tighter. But I don't think that the speaker puts the blame solely on one person or another, but rather they both had part in the marriage crumbling. So after a time the author describes how they separate and one goes  to live in an apartment alone. The next stretch of time shows a different side of this exhausted tone where it seems they grow tired of moping around, listening to depressing songs, and avoiding packing up their belongings. Now the speaker finally admits it was time to talk things out and finish things. The final stanza has a much different feel than the first two. The first two describe the pain of the relationship and the feeling of being sick of dealing with it all; however, the final part discusses the pain of ending the relationship. I think the speaker and their partner both know that they can't stay in the relationship, but it is still hard to see it end. The final part shows a tone of exhaustion of all the fighting and hate and denial. They finally accept that things are over and have to let go. The tone indicates a respect for the other person, but an acceptance that it is over. Overall the tone makes the difference between a scorned and bitter divorcee and a person who has matured enough emotionally to realize they had to move on and get out of this relationship.

Set Sail for the After Life: Imagery of "Crossing the Bar"

"I hope to see my Pilot face to face
when I have crossed the bar."
At the beginning of the poem I thought for sure I knew what it was about. Clearly it was about a man about to embark on a journey across the sea. Then as I got to the last lines of the third stanza I began to realize I might be wrong. Finally as I got to the last stanza it became clear that this poem was not about a physical trip on a sailboat but crossing over from life into death. The imagery used to describe this however parallels perfectly with that of a boat going across the ocean. The sunset and evening star represent the end his life, but he is starting his voyage right now indicating the start of a new life after death. He describes the tide as being asleep so hopefully the passage will be calm when he returns home to heaven just like the tide "Turns again home". Now as the sun continues to set darkness is eminent just as he feels death is. He also hopes there will be no sadness when he must leave. He states that though the flood may bear me far, meaning though he might travel to places far away that he is unsure of, he hopes that when he comes to the other side he will see the Pilot or God's face. The fact that he capitalized the word Pilot is probably a reference to how we capitalize the word God. Overall the imagery sets up a sort of calm but uncertain tone of beginning a voyage on the sea that fit quite well with the image of a man who has accepted that death is coming soon.

Metaphors and Similies that Aren't Very Flattering! (My Mistress' Eyes)

"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun"
The first time I read through this poem I was shocked and confused. I had always taken Shakespeare to be somewhat of a romantic, but these comparisons sounded more like they were coming from a pig than a poet. After all what girl would stay with a man who thought all these things were so much better than her and that none of her features could compare? Then as I got to the last two lines I realized that Shakespeare wasn't being a jerk, but was being honest and that he actually did love her. When I picture the girl he is describing a picture her with dull eyes, average lips, black wiry hair, pale cheeks. But the most significant thing I realized when picturing her was that she seemed realistic. Shakespeare uses these comparisons to show that she is just an average but very real girl. She may not have a voice prettier than music or float on air to get around, but she is a real normal girl who Shakespeare loves. He is trying to express the truth behind his love for who she truly is. By sort of mocking all these comparisons poets normally make to express their love for someone, he actually shows that his love is deeper and more true. His love is not based on a girl with looks like an angel, but rather on an average looking girl whom he has fallen for. His love for her goes deeper than her physical features and he proves this by being somewhat harshly honest about what his lover looks like. Personally I'd rather him love me for who I am and tell me I'm pretty, but you can't always have it both ways I guess.

Loyalty and Liberty or Sarcasm and Satire? Or Maybe Both?

"Why talk of beauty what could be more beautiful than these heroic happy dead"

The poem "next to of course god america i" was so confusing. At the beginning of the poem I thought it had a happy tone that was full of liberty. He talked about the love he had for his country. But then it takes on a much darker tone discussing the ignorance of ignoring other languages and the slaughter of soldiers who race to their death. He almost seems to be scolding America for its brutality and willingness to go to war. If this is the case that makes me pretty angry. I know just as much as the next person that America has its issues, but I don't think fighting for what you believe in is ever wrong. The soldiers that fight for this country fight for freedom and liberty. I think degrading them to the status of lions running toward slaughter is both ignorant and disrespectful. Though it is not ideal that people have to go to war and die, it isn't reasonable to think that America can thrive and survive as a country without having to fight a few wars. I wish that wasn't the case but I know it is and the best thing we can do is to support our troops and give them the honor and respect they deserve instead of criticizing their loyalty to their country.

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

"And the father wrote right back,
'Please don't write such depressing letters. You're upsetting your mother.'"
The poem APO 96225 is possibly the most depressing poem I've ever read. Sadly it is also one of the most realistic poems I've ever read. The son who is sent away to war writes his mother and says nothing but "Dear Mom, sure rains a lot here." His mother senses something is wrong and asks her son to tell her what's wrong. However, as the letters are sent they only seem to get happier and happier discussing funny monkeys and spectacular sunsets. As the son's letters get happier, the mother's become more desperate to learn the truth. Finally the son reveals the true horrors he has seen and neglected to tell his mother. Then suddenly his father is the one sending the message and he tells him to not speak such things because it is upsetting his mother. This is a sad indication of a society that yearns to learn the truth and to know all the details but when those are finally revealed the people can't handle the horrors and instead chose to hide them away. We send other people away to die for us and to kill for us, but we do not wish to see it being done. It's sickening but it's true and this poem reflects that hard truth and forces us to look our weakness in the face.

Airing out the dirty laundry: Symbolism of "Sorting Laundry"

"a mountain of unsorted wash
 could not fill
 the empty side of the bed"
What seems like an mundane chore has now been transformed into a fantastic symbol of a relationship. But the laundry does not just represent one single aspect of a relationship but all the parts that make it up, good and bad. It describes the pillowcases that "despite so many washings, seams still holding our dreams" which indicates that even through their relationship has been through many sometimes challenging times that their dreams of love still remain. The bright beach towels represent those feelings that even after so long they still keep hidden. Then there were the clothes that have been worn and washed over and over. The action of wearing and washing the same things over and over has become routine much like the lives of lovers after much time. The wrinkles indicate the problems that couples have that are either worked out or left to be dealt with another time. Couples can become separated like socks in the wash and feelings can shrink like the clothes. But then you find some surprises in the pockets, little things, that remind you of your love and bring a little hope and happiness. Some of these can get washed away or lost but some still remain in tact and beautiful. The speaker finally says that if the lover were to leave that no amount of laundry could fill the emptiness that is left when he is gone. These symbols do an excellent job of portraying all the elements and struggles of a relationship by comparing them to the simple task of doing laundry.

Looks that Kill: The Irony of "Barbie Doll"

"Consummation at last. To every woman a happy ending."
This poem is the epitome of an insecure girl. All her life she has been taught to believe that she is ugly. She was healthy, smart, and strong, but all she could see was her flaws. So instead of embracing all these good things about her she spends her time apologizing for and trying to hide her big nose and fat legs. Then as everyone tries to fix her and tell her what to do she begins to lose herself and grows weary. So she cuts of her nose and legs and kills herself. Then at her funeral, all done up by the undertaker with a new nose and pretty makeup, all the mourners say how pretty she is. The irony of this is that she has spent all her life trying to make herself beautiful in the eyes of everyone but could not succeed. Only in death where beauty means nothing did she finally get the one thing she wants which is the acceptance and approval of everyone. The saddest irony is that she never did see herself as beautiful until she ruined it by cutting out the insecurities she couldn't look past. This irony is used as a lesson and a warning against allowing oneself to let insecurities take over and become the main focus. You shouldn't let that insecurity become a disease or an obsession that leads you to a horrible end. Rather you should see yourself as beautiful the way you are and continue living in that confidence. The irony of this poem indicates that message.

There's a Method to my Madness: Paradox of "Much Madness is divinest Sense"

"Much Sense — the starkest Madness — "

Dickinson's poem is chalk full of paradoxes; even the title is a paradox. How can madness be sensible? Actually she uses this paradox to explain society and its sometimes crazy ideas. Often when you look back in history at people's choices or actions you wonder how they possibly could have thought that was a good idea. I mean who would have believed that the world was flat? However, Dickinson's poem explains how even the most insane ideas can be considered acceptable and sensible because the majority believes it to be true. Also she makes the parallel explanation of how even if one person actually has the right or sensible idea, it will most likely be shut down because it is against what the majority believes. She says if you assent or go with the crowd then you will be thought of as sane or normal. On the other hand if you go against this belief you are considered insane and therefore dangerous. When a person threatens to disprove everything you thought to be true, people tend to take this with some hostility. So even when someone discovered the world was really round and that it revolves around the sun, people refused to believe it and called him crazy. Dickinson's poem conveys this absurd but true statement about life through the use of the paradox between madness and sense.

An interesting take on dreams packed with similies

 Or does it explode?

"A Dream Deferred" was probably my favorite poem from this unit because of its unique view of dreams. Normally the idea of dreams has a happy connotation because it expresses a sense that anything is possible. However, Hughes takes a different route and focuses on the dreams that have yet to come true. He questions what happens to these dreams in limbo. He first asks if they just wither up and almost die like a raisin in the sun. Then he asks if they become like a soar acting as a painful reminder of what hasn't come true. He goes on to compare it to stink like rotten meat and become bitter in a way, the crusting over like syrup to remember it as nothing but a happy dream, and the sagging and dragging the person down with the thought of the dream's failure. My favorite possibility he offers is his last one which he singles out as its own stanza: "or does it explode?". This is the most intriguing and most confusing because it could either mean it explodes in a bad way and causes destruction or it explodes and the dream actually becomes reality. The uncertainty of the dream's fate is best described in this one last question because it could go either way. I like the idea that no matter how improbable the dream may seem or however long it is deferred, it always has the possibility to explode and become real.

The Irony of "Pink Dog" and the brand Pink's Dog icon.

Oh, never have I seen a dog so bare!
Naked and pink, without a single hair...
Startled, the passersby draw back and stare.


In the poem "Pink Dog" Elizabeth Bishop is trying to caution against over exposing one's body especially in public. The grotesqueness of the naked dog in her poem represents those who shed their natural and normal coat of clothes in favor of bearing more skin. Instead of bringing about praise and admiration, however, it brings shock, horror, and disgust. She describes how it is not right for sophisticated women who are sometimes mothers (note the "nursing mother" reference) to be degrading themselves in such a way. Ironically there is a sub-brand of clothing and undergarments called PINK under Victoria's secret and their mascot is, you guessed it, a dog. Everyone knows that Victoria's secret is known for bearing it all and being more than a little risque, and though the PINK brand is slightly better (due to the fact it's geared more towards teens) it still includes a variety of low cut and skimpy outfits that sometimes showcase provocative sayings. On every piece of clothing or undergarment the small dog logo appears on it at least once. I can't help wondering if this was done purposefully of if it is just a strange coincidence. After all this kind of inappropriate showing off of skin and boobs is exactly what Bishop was warning against. She urges people to see the hideousness of a naked dog who couldn't appreciate the beauty of its original coat. I'm sure if she could see the brand PINK today she would surely think that the logo dog was just as naked and shameful as the girls who wear the clothes.

A load of "Toads" makes for a cynical theme

For something sufficiently toad-like
 Squats in me, too

The poem "Toads" by Philip Larkin is both strange and depressing. Why Larkin uses the

image of toads to represent work, I'm not sure. However, he still manages to get his point

across clearly. At the beginning it almost seems that he is mocking those who attempt to live

off wit and not work, by expressing their poor living conditions and lack of money. But as the

poem goes about it seems that he is actually almost jealous of those. The theme of his poem is

that even though one wishes to live freely and without work, that person is always trapped by 

the necessity of worldly comforts and lifestyles. He expresses how he feels trapped by things 

like "the fame and the girl" which makes it impossible for him to break away from the routine 

of work that he hates so much. He longs to be free of it, and to live life on the edge but

knows that it comes with the risk of losing everything, and so he chooses to stay in the same

pattern of work. The theme comes off as cynical but in truth it is very realistic. A majority 

of the world feels the same frustration Larkin feels, but, like Larkin, chooses the comforts 

that are offered from the work over the excitement but inevitable risk of tossing work to the 

wind. We all have "toads" inside us squatting that keep us from branching out and fulfilling

our wildest dreams. This is the point Larkin is trying to make with his toads. 

Could it be? A Happy Poem from Emily?! Dickinson's use of alcohol as a metaphor expresses joy in "I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed"

"I taste a liquor never brewed,
From tankards scooped in pearl;
Not all the vats upon the Rhine
Yield such an alcohol!"
Dickinson's poem "I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed" has a drastically different feel than the last poem of hers we had to read. This poem has a tone of utter joy and happiness as she sings her praises for the beauty of nature.In fact she loves it so much she chooses to use liquor as a metaphor for just how captivated she is by it. The liquor never brewed that she is referring to is the captivation of nature. In the second line she says it is "scooped in pearl" which is a beautiful precious gem that comes from the earth. It also says that no alcohol that comes for the Rhine could produce such a feeling of the intoxication that comes from nature. She is also intoxicated by the air, the dew, and the blue of the sky. She also even describes it as a heavenly scene when angels sit amongst the clouds ("Till seraphs swing their snowy hats") and the saints come to watch her too as she soaks up the joy and loveliness of nature. The use of the metaphor of liquor is helpful because many adults have experienced the initial euphoria of its effects and what a strong hold it takes on a person. Stating that nature is like a stronger alcohol than any other before indicates just how incredible it truly is.

You Can't Have It Both Ways: A blog about the paradox of Bright Star!

 "And so live ever--or else swoon to death"
In the poem "Bright Star" John Keats seems to have to contradicting ideas. In the first part of the poem Keats describes how he wishes to be eternal like a star in the sky. The star lives forever in beauty and watches over all the other beautiful images of the earth. However, in the second half of the poem he explains a beauty far more important to him than that of any element of nature. He describes how beautiful the girl he loves is and how he wishes to fully love her. The problem is, is that in order to fully love her he must be human and the key element of being human is being mortal. A paradox exists between his yearning to be immortal and his need to love this woman as a mortal. This paradox serves to compare the beauty of both the star and his beloved. He connects the two by describing how the star's light shines on her, which he then uses to parlay into discussing how he hopes to forever be with her and feel her breath. Another paradox in the poem is the phrase "sweet unrest". Normally one wouldn't consider unrest to be sweet, but if he could be awake with his lover then it would all be worth it. In the end he expresses how though he would like to live forever, he would rather die loving this woman and loving her for all his life. The paradox shows just how great his devotion to this love truly is.

Interpretation Frustration: how far is too far?

I can already tell that this unit is going to be a challenge for me. Though I normally really enjoy both reading and writing poetry, Perrine's article has completely altered my view of it. I was under the original assumption that as long as my interpretation was not too far-fetched that it would suffice and ultimately be deemed "correct". Now though I find myself fretting over whether or not my analysis goes too in depth to the point that it doesn't fit all the criteria. Are there ever just poems that just describe an event outright or does every poem have a specific deeper meaning? And if both kinds of poems exist then how do you discern between which are just telling a story and which are trying to convey some significant life lesson? This unit's poems are a prime example of this confusion. To me a majority of these poems could just be describing an event or story; however, I could also find deeper meanings in them if I searched for them. I guess my biggest question is should I be searching and digging for them or should I sometimes just take them for what they're worth? The sooner I figure this out, I'm sure the process of analyzing the poems will be much easier.

A beautiful Disaster: The Convergence of the Twain

" In a solitude of the sea
     Deep from human vanity,
And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she."

One of my favorite poems in this unit was "The Convergence of the Twain" by Thomas Hardy because of the way he conveyed such a well known historic event in a new light. Everyone knows the story of the Titanic which was supposed to be unsinkable and ironically and tragically sunk due to a crash with an iceburg. Many people view it as a horrific freak accident and a tragic love story. However, Hardy depicts the story as a series of inevitable events bound to occur by fate's hand. Hardy discusses how the ship was a huge show of vanity and bragged of its invincibility. He further goes on to say that because of this fate had to step in and correct this by causing it to crash in the iceburg. I especially liked how he compared the lower class passengers and worms and the upper class passengers as jewels, but in the end it didn't matter what they were because they both died. I also liked his insight of how the ugly dull ice chunk and the beautiful ship seemingly had nothing in common, but were then thrown together and literally intertwined in the physical sense and in history. Now when anyone thinks of one, the other is bound to come to mind. His almost accusatory tone describes how the pride of the Titanic led to its ultimate demise.

It's beginning to look a lot like springtime! Imagery of "Spring"

"The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling."

Throughout the poem "Spring" Hopkins uses images of pear tress and racing lambs to create a beautiful picture of springtime. From the description of songbirds' eggs to beautiful vegetation growth, the images conjure up a picture that is more than just pretty; It almost seems perfect, not unlike the garden of Eden. In fact I believe the images described in this poem are a form of praise to God for His creation. It compares the imagery of this new, fresh season to that of a world that was perfect in its innocence before sin tainted and ruined it. The lambs racing are symbolic of people being the children of God and the poem even references Jesus as the "maid's child". The way he depicts spring allows the reader to create an image of this happy and bright scene that is paralleled to the joy he feels for God and all He has created for us. Also I wonder if the peartree described represents the tempting fruit tree in the garden of Eden story. Even though it has a negative connotation in the Bible, in Hopkins poem there is no betrayal of God's word, therefore the tree can still be seen as beautiful and wonderful just like the rest of the images that appear in the poem.

Regret and Sacrifice: Central theme of "Those Winter Sundays"

"What did I know, what did I know of love’s austere and lonely offices?"

In the poem "Those Winter Sundays" the author describes his father's ritual actions on Sundays in winter of cutting wood to keep the house warm. Though he has worked hard all week, he still goes out early in the morning and chops the wood in order to keep the house warm. He even shines the good shoes of the author. Still through all this the author talks to his father with indifference. The line " And slowly I would rise and dress, fearing the chronic angers of that house" indicates that there is obviously some strain on their relationship; however, throughout most of the poem the author does nothing but describe the good works of his father. This indicates that now looking back he feels shameful of how he treated his father. He realizes he did not appreciate all his father did for him at the time. This theme could also indicate that he now understands parenthood and its sacrifices, and feels regretful of treating his own father in this way.

I'm going crazy, crazy, crazy (Repetition of sounds in the poem "I felt a funeral in my brain"

 "A service like a drum
Kept beating, beating, till I thought
My mind was going numb."
In Emily Dickinson's poem "I felt a funeral in my brain" Dickinson repeats specific words and sounds to indicate her insanity. She repeats the words treading, beating, and down which are all actions she or the mourners make throughout this funeral. The funeral actually indicates how she feels she is going insane and the chaos that is taking place in her mind. The mourners treading represent her last sane thoughts while the drum beating represents the coming insanity. This repetition functions as another way to indicate her craziness. Insane people often ramble or repeat things they have already said as if they are trapped within their thoughts. This is exactly what Dickinson is trying to convey through her poem: She is showing how she is about to be trapped in the depths of her mind as she falls "down and down" into it from reality. The part of her that was sane has now passed away and she is mourning the loss of it.

"How can you say your truth is better than ours?"

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."


This quote from Romeo and Juliet and from Mumford and Sons both depict my stern disagreement with Perrine's opinion that there are right and wrong interpretations of poetry. Though he makes some good points I believe that poetry, like so many things in life, is open to and almost dependent on interpretation. A poem has an original meaning that the author intended; however, there can be a much deeper analysis lying underneath that possibly the author hadn't even intended. This is common in literature as I'm sure when great writers like J.K. Rowling only intended to write a fictional work about a wizard boy, but created a great novel full of symbols and hidden themes that provoke such analysis. If anything I believe this actually shows a sign of a great author. Poetry tends to be much more cryptic but still has the same guidelines. Perrine said it himself when he described how poets limit their works by giving them definite meaning. If one wishes to truly be a great poet then they have to let their work transcend their own original interpretation and allow it to lend itself to that of several others. Perrine argues that a poet limits the possible interpretations by word choice or certain aspects; however, Shakespeare says otherwise in Romeo and Juliet. Words given specific names are nothing more than words, but when you put your own experience or interpretation behind those words true feeling arises from them. Another aspect of a great poet is one creates a piece that evokes a personal feeling for the reader. If a poem truly can be limited to one specific meaning or another then it limits the audience it can connect with and thus loses its validity as a work. Though some may argue that this isn't a requirement because everyone has different experiences that are unique from many others, I say that everyone feels the same spectrum of emotions. Sure one can feel them more intensely or they derive from different circumstances, but they are the same emotions everyone else feels and thus can be expressed in a piece creating a connection with the reader. Perrine's idea is that of an idealist with a closed mind who hopes to give some specific definition to literature and poetry. He feels the need to be correct in his interpretation and that all others who differ should be wrong. However, I think that the beauty of literature and poetry is that there isn't an answer. People view the world through different lives and until you've lived through them all you cannot possibly say that their view of it is more or less correct than yours. I believe poetry is a small glance into a poets world through the use of words as tools of expression and emotion. We all live in the same world but all view it differently either due to time, location, or lifestyle. Because of this everyone's interpretation of this "glance into a poet's world" is almost definitely bound to differ from that of the poet's. There is nothing wrong or incorrect about this; it's just different and through this difference comes the beauty and growth that can only come from multiple interpretations of poetry and literature.