Delight in Disorder

"A careless shoestring, in whose tie
I see a wild civility"


This poem contains many oxymorons. Different articles of clothing are discussed throughout the poem. The "sweet disorder" means the speaker is praising being different and not always abiding by the rules. The "fine distractions" of the linen scarf seems to mean that the speaker encourages distractions. The final oxymoron of "wild civility" represents the poem as a whole. I think the speaker is criticizing order and everything always being perfectly in place. I think the speaker is also criticizing the perfectionists. The speaker is encouraging people to be different and they are doing this through clothing. This makes me think of people who always look at what celebrities are wearing or what the fashion magazines are saying is the latest trend instead of wearing what they like. I think this poem just emphasizes the importance of being individual and not letting other people define who you are.

Edward

"And what will ye leave to your own mother dear,
Edward, Edward,
And what will ye leave to your own mother dear?"


Wow, this poem was really weird and creepy. It's basically a conversation between Edward and his mother. The mother keeps asking her son about crimes he has committed and as the poem goes on, the crimes get worse. I think that is why the structure of the poem is so important. The poem starts with a simple killing of a hawk. Then is moves to his father, then he leaves his wife and kids with nothing and then he abandons even his own mother. Throughout the poem, the mother seems very forgiving of Edward and doesn't really get angry with him. She just keeps asking him why he is doing what he is doing. She asks "And what will you leave to your children and wife?" trying to remain optimistic and allow Edward to make up for his mistakes. Edward on the other hand, appears selfish and cold-hearted. However, he also appears scared and helpless. I think that the only true crime he does, is kill his father. He is trying to explain to his mother what he did, but doesn't really know how to tell her. He know he will be punished for his actions and know that his mother will have to share the burden.

Lonely Hearts

"Please write (with photo) to Box 152."


I found this poem entertaining. It makes me think of the commercials for the online dating sites like eHarmony. I think this poem is a satire of people who are desperate and do any means necessary to find someone. Some of the situations described in the poem are just so ridiculous like a "gay vegetarian whose friends are few" and "attractive Jewish lady with a son". I think the speaker is trying to say that people sometimes say too much about their personal life and just want so desperately to be loved. I think the structure of this poem is perfect for the situation. It is a villanelle so each section is three lines and the last section is four lines. Each tercet is describing someone who is looking for that special someone. The final quatrain gives a final plea to people to answer the advertisements and I cracked up when it said "with photo" because obviously these people have pretty specific requirements that they expect to be met.

That time of year

"To love that well which thou most leave ere long."


This poem is a sonnet. But not just any sonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet! This means the last two lines will be a shift in tone or emotion. The poem is broken up into three quatrains and each quatrain gives off a feeling of depression and somberness and death. The first quatrain talks about "yellow leaves...do hang upon those boughs which shake against the cold" creating an image of fall turning to winter, when the trees become bare and lifeless. The poem gives off a somber tone when talking about "death's second self that seals up all in rest". The speaker is talking to someone and says twice "in me thou see'st". The first time he talks about the twilight and the black night and the second time he talks about "the ashes of his youth". It makes me think that when this person looks at the speaker, they see darkness. But it says "his youth", so who is the his? The final lines say "thy love more strong". So this person understands something about the speaker that will only make their love grow. But before long the love will be gone. I wonder if this means that death is approaching and they are running out of time. 

Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead

"I see myself on deck, convinced 
his ship's gone down, while he's convinced 
I'll see him standing on the dock 
and waving, shouting, Welcome back."


This poem is an elegy which is usually about someone who has died. However, the speaker's father has not actually died yet, he is just ready to die. I think the other definition of elegy which is a poem of mourning is present in this poem. The speaker is not ready for his father to die. The father is very accepting of death and "he talks about the world beyond this world as though his reservations have been made". I think the main problem is that there are two different views on faith. The father seems to have a strong faith and knows there is an after-life like when he talks about the world beyond this world. The son on the other hand is not so sure about life after death, "He thinks that when I follow him he'll wrap me in his arms and laugh, the way he did when I arrived on earth. I do not think he's right". The son has a lack of faith and therefore is sad about his father's death because he thinks he will never see his father again. I think that is what the final four lines are enforcing. The son thinks that the father's "ship's gone down" meaning that once he dies, it is over. The father believes that he will be "standing on the dock" meaning that the father will be awaiting his son. The father does not fear death because he knows there is a more important life after the human one.