Gary Snyder "The Maverick Bar"

 

This poem is very intriguing because it seems to bare a cultural clash amongst two different cultures. The reason why I made this statement is because the poet mentions the local bar band that’s emphasizing on “America” way of living by singing a song called “we don’t smoke marijuana in muskokie”.  This title raised my concern for acceptance simply because a “Muskokie” to my knowledge is the border of eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas, which leads me to believe that their lifestyle is abnormal to people in the Maverick Bar.  What I’d also like to point out is the way the poet ends this poem, he says “We left—onto the freeway…In the shadow of bluffs…To the real work, to what is to be done”, my interpretation to this statement is that the poet believes that his way of living is much more accepting.  Maybe my conclusion is too general or maybe the case may not be so, any suggestions? Or comments?

Blog---Paul Blackburn “Brooklyn Narcissus”

“Brooklyn Narcissus”, represents a poem with mixed emotions, the author seemed lonely, and unstable.  The author also seems to have a troubled mind because he’s in constant battle with himself.  The introduction of this poem would give you the impression the author is under the influence of alcohol, because he says “Straight rye Whisky, 100 Proof”.  As you continue reading this poem they are more indications of the poet feeling lonely, rather than him being intoxicated because he ended the sentence saying “you need a better friend? Yes, myself.

The second part of the poem elaborates more on the poet’s loneliness because it says “The lights the lights the lonely lovely fucking lights”.  At night, indeed the lights are all alone, which would be the ideal time for someone to have alone time to observed the beauty at night and what we don’t usually see in the day we would see at night.  All the different colors at night, and the scenery seems like it reminds the poet of Christmas because he mentions “Blue/green double-stars…Xmas trees of tugs scream and struggle”, I would assume “Xmas’ because of the blure and green and the bright gleaming on the river.

This poem can relate to Yusef Komunyakaa’s poem “Facing it”, because both authors used an object or situation to reflect on memories.  For instance Yusef used the Vietnam Veterans memorial to reminisce about his experience in the Vietnamese War, and Paul Blackburn used loneliness and the train and bridge to reminisce on what may appear to be a lost relationship he once had.  Both authors convey a lonely and lost feeling, as if they lost a part of them In the past, and its challenging for them to move on from it.

On the contrary, “Facing It’ has more realism to it as oppose to “Brooklyn Narcissus”, simply because the event that was more realistic.  Thus, ‘Brooklyn Narcissus may be more relatable for many people because of the connection it has with inner loneliness; we constantly battle our minds about being lonely and have some sort of broken pieces that cannot be mend together.  The reason why I made such a strong statement is because the author stated keep hinting ‘loneliness”, and “the flowers died when you went way”.  I know on my behalf I can relate “Brooklyn Narcissus” to relationship hardships, because the same type of loneliness the poet is feeling are the same emotions I carry around when I remember the one I loved.

Yusef Komunyaaka poem “lime”


"Lime" has a contrast between love and lust, along with war and battle.  On the contrary with love and war, this particular city in Rome lost a battle that contradicted the citizen’s actions.  The citizens that lost the war eventually gave in to the war and sided with the opposing army, Women slept with the enemy and men became a part of the battle group.  While the winning army celebrated, as they marched to express their accomplishment they were premeditating on conquering other cities in Rome.  This war was a righteous war for them, simply because they believed that it was very sinful, and disgracing.  What I also interpreted and analyzed about this poem is that many of the actions that took place was based on biblical commandments, it seemed as though the army wanted to tear down this dreadful and sinful city because on adultery, and sexuality.  Today in society many countries and cities is becoming more accepting to homosexuality and adultery because there are “gay marriages’, and “polygamy marriages”.  Many people today can express their feelings in their own manner.

"The Gift", by Li-Young Lee

The Gift is an emotional and intimate poem between father and son. It depicts the relationship between father and son by connecting what may be a painful situation resulted in a loving and calm outcome.  The young boy in this poem felt closer to his father and had an experience that can never be erased.  The young boy in this poem had a splinter stuck in his finger, as his father removes it, a story is being told to him by his father which soothes the young boy.  The boy was also impressed by his father’s amiable and tender touch, which took his attention away from the pain of the splinter.  The boy described his father as being patient, and loving not only to him but with his mother as well.  In the poem the significance of “Voice” expressed a lot of emotion.  His father’s “Voice”, would instill a love in the child that would always resonate with him.  The poet emphasize “Voice”, which was a symbolism of the poem because, “Voice” expressed “masculinity”, “Sternness”, and “Security”.  A child would always have those feeling towards their father “Voice”, because of how it sound, and most of all because we tend to know by nature a father’s “voice” is not to be afraid of but to feel security, and no harm.  I can relate to this poem because I perceive my father to be my “Hero”, especially when I was looking for security.  In conclusion, “The Gift” represented what most of us take for granted can actually be a gift for us; it may not be a physical gift but a gift that’s instilled in us.