You Don't Send Me Flowers Anymore...

("Getting Out", Mathis)

Upon reading this poem, the song "You Don't Send Me Flowers Anymore" sung by Neil Diamond and Barbara Steisand seemed to play in the background. It can be found at the following link. It's a beautiful duet reflecting a couple that has fallen out of love. Conveniently this poem is about the same topic; this couple hasn't had a tragic event or issue, rather they have simply grown out of their relationship. They keep running through the motions and continue to feel more and more suffocated. This is best reflected by the detail of the "heaving words like furniture". However, their love is not gone shown in their confusion of night activities and peaceful and sad ending. If this was a nasty breakup, their wouldn't have been tears of sadness or embrace at the end.

Once Upon A Time...

("The Oxen", Hardy)

The aura of tradition and storytelling fuel this poem; there is a strong sense of memories and family. This poem reflects the statement that no matter the tradition, communities will draw together to grow and reflect together. This example of oxen-kneeling is clearly special to the group; it's a annual story that has lasted for many years shown through the elders. No matter if this was a religious or superstitious tradition, it's a staple of the holiday. The values of family and community are the core of the Christmas season, but today's world has seemed to have lost those values. Thankfully groups such as these still hold activities that capture the importance of community. Perhaps the focus of the poem shouldn't be the oxen, rather the feeling of family and fellowship should be further broad-casted into the poem. For, what's more odd in today's society, a close family or a kneeling oxen?

Let Us Come, to the Water,,,,

("Crossing the Bar", Tennyson)

This entire poem uses symbols to describe death and the afterlife. The "bar" serves as the purgatory; it's not quite into the ocean yet it's not on the shore. The "deep end" serves as hell: dark, airless, unknown, and suffocating. The "Pilot" is the God-figure, bring comfort out of the ocean and an offer of escape from the bar. The scene takes place in the evening, usually interpreted as the end of one's life or growing old. With these symbols, the piece works to describe a peaceful, humble, and quiet death. The speaker seems to want to just pass away without being noticed or cried over. It's a self-less desire fueled by the hope and knowledge of the afterlife. The poem gives one of the best images of death represented by symbols of the ocean.

You're the Reason our Kids are Ugly...

("My Mistress' Eyes, Shakespeare)

Without reading the last few lines, this poem seems to be the ultimate put-down of a relationship. The speaker is blasting insults left and right; '' music hath far more pleasing sound" "in that breath that from my mistress reeks". He seems like a jerk, who doesn't deserve ANY girl. However, he saves himself with his honest and true love in the last few lines. The central theme of this poem was to profess realistic and true love by making a satire of stereotypical love poems. Such love seems far more romantic rather than the lustful and physical draws of beauty. Still, I think that the speaker should have had at least one compliment for his lady; relationships are about finding the best in each other rather than treating each other as ordinary people. One doesn't have to exaggerate to portray beauty and care.

I Wish. More than Anything. More than Life

("Ozymandias", Shelley)

Materialism is a mocking theme in this piece. Tyrant Ozymandias is defined by his decaying and ruined building which stands out of place in the middle of the desert. The speaker reflects on Ozymandias' reign as a joke by critiquing his methods of demanding power and wealth shown in the quote: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings, look at my works, ye Mighty, and despair!". The current crumbling state of the works ironically shows the lack of worth found in materials. Ozymandias did not last, his people did not last, the speaker will not last; humans will die and hopefully leave this world and only materials will be left behind. Who needs to flaunt and demand materials if they will only be lost after death. The speaker displays the fate of such extensive materials: to be a laughing stock for the generations to come.

Get the 64 Crayon Box

("Mr. Z", Holman)

This poem is full of allusions and diction that helps define "Mr. Z". The name of the character is raceless: the goal of the character. The speaker seems to pity the poor guy, explaining his past of trying to live above race/religion results in a present and future of being defined by race/religion. The references to jazz music, spirituals, and Anglo-Saxonized imply that his mother and back ground was black. Within the second stanza, the character is revealed as Jewish through the explanation of his diet of no pork and other Jewish customs. He tries to escape race through marriage and location and works to success. Unfortunately he falls victim to his race/religion, and is recognized as a "distinguished member" to a race he rejected.

It is human nature to judge by race or religion, and no matter what, such judgement will always play a part of how one is seen by others. Since these judgements will never be rejected, it is important to embrace one's culture and background and try to find the best in other religions and cultures. The issue is not to rid of differences or culture, rather the issue is to rid of negative and rude judgement towards another race. We cannot be raceless, but embracing and accepting are achievable customs.

Under Things...Tumbling

("Sorting Laundry", Ritchie)



The central idea of this enjoyable poem is to represent the tendency to glorify everyday tasks by adding a significant other. Almost every task is more pleasant if another close person is added; dishes and cooking are seen as a fairly romantic date although these task are rejected otherwise. This speaker seems to fantasying about the lovely everyday life ahead with a loved one. The laundry is used to describe the desired "hungry" bedsheets, many dreams, vacation, everyday actions, changing future, remembering the past, surprises, and treasures. This poem also clarifies the need of "the other half" to fill the voids, otherwise laundry returns to being just laundry. This poem captures the necessity of living a life of love and joy, otherwise life is just mundane tasks. It is important to cherish loved ones and the blessings of life, because the "empty side of the bed" can occur at anytime. Life is more than reaching the end.

Belting the News..

("Barbie Doll", Piercy)

"Her good nature wore out like a fan belt."


This entire poem is centered on the repulsing image of women society holds: perfect, plastic, doll-like creatures. The speaker over exaggerates the procedures and teasing in order to display the injustice, but the affects are quite realistic. Judgement and lack of self-worth lead to being tired and even conformity. This ideal is best represented with the use of the simile comparing the girl to a fan belt. A fan belt, for those who don't know, is a circular strip of material used between two gears; it is vital to maintain the machine and is worn down to the point of breaking after sometime. Although the speaker dramatizes the causes, the effect upon the girl are true. Like the fan belt, she is constantly tested and worn down as she battles the crude judgement placed upon her. At the end, she breaks and "dies" and conforms to society. Her reliable fan belt is gone, replaced with a fickle and superficial fashion belt.

It Takes Two to Tango.

("February", Atwood)

"Get rid of death. Celebrate increase. Make it be spring."

Everyone can relate to this poem at some point or another, from the desire to lounge in bed to the feeling of despair at Valentines Day. This poem captures many realistic feelings, not hiding feelings of rejection or dimming language. The most inspiring message is found at the end of the poem, when the speaker vows to move on and above the comforts of themselves. It gives the perception that happiness and joy must be worked for, even in February "the month of despair". To dwell on the lack of relationship or failure of past relationships will do no good. It is disheartening to see people feel disgust and anger towards couples on such a day; let the couples have their day, their week, their life. One should ether reject relationships altogether or work towards the formation of a relationship, it is rude to blame couples for their contentment and happiness. Work to improve the situation rather than sulk in it; "so get going on a little optimism around here".

The Need to Express, To Communicate...

("A Dream Deferred", Hughes)



First and foremost, the inital connection of this poem can be found in the author Langston Hughes, who's name appears in the song "Le Vie Boheme" in the production of Rent. The aura of the song is a celebration and representation of many different radical ideas, people, and issues within the past few decades. Like the poem, each of these issues such as homosexual rights, drugs, and civil rights call and dream for a better future. This poem captures the pain, failure, avoidance, and work of a dream and eventually questions the worth of the dream. It's a part of the process of any difficult goal, a questioning of worth and need. While the main dream associated with this poem is Civil Rights, this feeling is present in almost any situation. The main message that should be recieved from this work is the preserverace to push ahead, and to resist "exploding" the dream or act in violence. One should instead connect to the aura of "Le Viee Boheme" and celebrate the acomplished work and show pride towards

And the World Will Know...

Toads", Philip Larkin)

This poem represents a pinnacle of frustration and injustice. The speaker quickly establishes his fury with the many different groups of society. He wishes to escape the "toad work" of simple jobs and under appreciated labor, wanting to "use wit as a pitchfork and drive the brute off". This poor fellow is underpaid and simply can't flee the curses of labor, thus he turns to whining about those who "live off wits", never starving or receiving consequence. The overall tone of the piece is the bitter frustration of the hardworking over the jerks that somehow slip by. He also seems to attack those who are given everything due to wealth and family. (Which is quite relatable.) The piece also explains the unspoken barrier of silence the respectable hardworking class have against the "losels, loblolly-men, and louts". This pieces reeks of the injustice towards the working class, and with the diction and rude judgment towards the free-loaders, a tone of frustration and complaining is created.

Nature's Sweet Nectar

("I Taste A Liquor never Brewed", Dickinson)

The speaker of this poem is not attempting to justify drinking, drunks, or "tankards". Once the reader has sifted through the vocabulary concerning drinking, the purpose of the poem becomes revealed. The central ideal of the poem is to create the image of intoxicating nature. The diction and imagery fit this description. The "Debauchee (person addicted to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures) of Dew" and "Reeling, endless summer days" capture fields and meadows rather than bars and tailgates. The last stanza describes to seraphs (angels of the highest order) and saints watching the happy "Tipper" go about their day. Perhaps these angels represent those distant from nature, behind windows and snowy caps, who think they know better than the drunk and better than everyone. It would be best for these poor individuals to join the happy drunk outside.

You are My Lucky Star...

("Bright Star", Keats)

Throughout this poem, the speaker is addressing in apostrophe. The object of attention is "found in the stars" as the hopelessly-in-love speaker dwells over his lover. The purpose of an apostrophe is to reveal the internal thoughts of the speaker, which is shown in this display of yearning and desire.

The speaker uses the stars to explain his specific desires. He wishes to remain frozen in the current moment with his love, forever shining and constant. He is completely dazed by this relationship, willing to die rather than go without it. This feeling is captured in the song "You are my Lucky Star" from the classic romantic movie Singing in the Rain. The distance in between him and the stars seems to support his mood of longing and proclamation, giving the "shout it from the mountains" feel. Unfortunately, the world will go on; the speaker will have to become the stars he is speaking to and change.

A Foggy Day...

("London", Blake)

While reading this poem, I was only capable to compare it to the Michael Buble's cover " A Foggy Day", a song set in London. The lyrics are simple, but hold some resemblance to this intelligent poem:

A foggy day, in London Town.

Had me low, had me down.

I viewed the morning with such alarm.

British museum had lost its charm.

I long, I wonder, could this thing last?

But the age of miracles hadn't past,

For suddenly I saw you there,

And through foggy London town, the sun was shining everywhere.

This song and this poem are set and focused on the structured and tiresome aura of London. Although orderly and tidy, the place is filled with fear and and weakness. I interrupted Blake's poem as a voice of concern when London had its rocky history of having no heir to the throne (ie: that whole Kine Henry the VIII thing...), given the details of "blood down the palace walls" and "plagues the Marriage hearse". The entire issue seems to cloud, or fog if you will, over London. All charm was lost, as the Church lost it's values and soldiers transformed into protection for solely the King. However, this history and sadness of London captured by Blake is lost and the country became more stable (or the sun shined in hope as King Henry found another wife...).

We are Family?

("Those Winter Sundays", Hayden)

This entire poem seems to be trying to win sympathy for the father. The first stanza reflects his "cracked hands" laboring in the "blueblack cold". It is clearly evident that the father works tirelessly to provide for his family, giving them warmth and "good polished shoes", and the work bluntly states that the fellow never receives thanks. The speaker seems to be reflecting on the necessary pity for his father, and the grief he should feel for not being grateful for his father. However, the speaker does not reveal that he has or ever will share his thanks. While his father provided some basics for him, the tone of the poem reveals that the father didn't provide a loving relationship. The poem describes the past sour relationship with its "chronic anger" and "speaking indifferently" that ruined the speaker's image of family and love. The speaker should be receiving the sympathy, not the father. The speaker's past was ruined by his father and home life and now he lives a life in "lonely offices" not knowing of the work required to love.

Stoop and Feel It, Stop..and Hear It

("I Felt a Funeral, in my Brain", Dickinson)

This description of a funeral/mental breakdown/mindless work/ death of spirit/ other interruptions, places heavy emphasis on the senses. Sight is required in the details of the treading mourners, lifting of the Box, the dropping being. The ability to hear is required to experience almost all of the poem, from the drum to the creak of the box, to the heaven bell, to the silence. Hearing is the focus of the poem, perhaps to best capture the feeling of being trapped by silence or lack of compassionate listeners. The eerie silence of death is interrupted by the loud drums and bells, further supporting a theme of feeling like an outcast. The one sense that is purposely not described is the sense of touch. Instead of touching the box or soul, the reader has to use other senses to experience this. The lack of feeling and touch helps strengthen the feeling of a funeral and being numb. Additionally, the theme of being an outcast is reflected in this untouchable aura. The senses bring this poem to life and capture its feeling.

Love for a Child...

("Spring", Hopkins)

From beginning to end, the diction chosen for this poem add an aura of class and ambiance. The center of the work is to describe the beauty of spring and innocence of life. Starting with "thrush egg's" instead of bird eggs and "echoing timber" to describe the awakened forest, the reader is bought into the enchantment of the piece. The overly perfect images of "glassy peartree leaves and blooms" and "racing lambs" intensify the ideal that spring is a new innocent beginning.

In the second half of the work, when the focus turns to the tarnishing of innocence and world outside of spring, the diction transforms into more negative diction. Phrases such as "sour with sin" and "before it cloys" (which means to grow to have distaste after an overabundance) convey the evil of the world. The "innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy" is soon lost, almost as quickly as the season changes. Overall the diction of this work exaggerates the themes of the poem in order to bring attention to the themes of the loss of innocence and the joys of spring.

An Apple a Day....

("After Apple-Picking", Frost)

This lovely poem reeks of one central tone: growing old and tired. Throughout the entire work, the speaker discusses his long life, now drawing its strung-out ending; this is best displayed by the quote: "Of apple picking I am overtired, of the great harvest I myself desired". This exhausted person isn't only tired of apple picking; many of the objects in this poem seem to represent not only apple picking, but also life in general. The ladder works as a symbol of life's journey, contributing to the tone by placing focus on the hardship and end of the ladder. The ladder "sticking through a tree toward heaven still" is one of the worker's greatest tools providing a "constant pressure of the ladder-round" and a chance to touch the "ten thousand thousand fruit"; the ladder reflects the tone by representing life's path with may hardships and opportunities. This tone is further revealed in the desire to sleep of the woodchuck, in a deep peaceful slumber, and the lure of sleep throughout the piece. This poor worker simply wants to "reach the winter" and finish their hard yet fulfilling life, expressed in the abundant diction, imagery, and voice. This poem almost adds years to the readers...

A Method to the Madness

(Perrine, "The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry)

"Words in poetry thus have richer meanings than in prose- they may exhibit purposeful ambiguities- but the meanings are still confined to a certain area."

The goal of Perrine is not to judge other interpretations of poetry or to deny multiple meanings of a poem, rather his goal is to put a cap boundless interpretation. Through his discussion of poems by Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and Herman Melville, he offers what he believes are the most correct explanation of these poems. I agree with Perrine that poems must have a cap of interpretation; however, I do not like the way he claimed his interpretation was the most correct. For example, he deeply discusses the connection of stars to the poem "The Night March" by Herman Melville and clearly states that any other interpretation is nonsense. Personally, I the whole star thing just didn't click. I went though and circled all the words like he had his students do, and read each point twice, but lets just say the stars were not in line. I saw other room for interpretation, but soon felt foolish for think so. Perrine says he is open to other interpretation, however his explanation of the poem clearly shuts the door to all other interpretation.

Aside from denying all other interpretation, I like Perrine's style. I would agree that a poem is "any pattern of words -defines an area of meaning, no more" meaning that there must be a limit of interpretation and symbols. He understands that poems will produce multiple feelings and images, and even addresses the fact that "no poet likes to be caught in the predicament of having to explain his own poems..without admitting failure or without saying something different (and usually much less) then what his poem said.". I think Perrine understands poetry fairly well, and he teaches the importance of making sure that connections make sense throughout an entire work. His students and readers will hopefully learn to investigate all details in all poems and make sure to write poems that can support a full clear image. He offers an method to the seemingly impossible task of understanding a poem, a tool needed by students of literature everywhere.