Of Mules and Men It is common knowledge that many people on this planet view the way in which our various societies work are much too detached from the issues disrupt our world. Topics like poverty, hunger, and war are all very sensitive subjects that carry a lot of weight and deal with varying levels of emotional baggage and effects on humanity. Because of this, many people prefer to simply pretend that these issues don’t exist, choosing instead to go about their lives as if there is nothing wrong. However, with this way of living, a common complaint that many people have is that humanity is far too ignorant of the plights and trials of the problems that are often kept hidden from the naked eye. In “Central Park,” author Billy Collins mirrors …show more content…
In saying that their lips moved like those of Saint Ambrose, the speaker was insinuating that they were reading the plaque to themselves, silently and in his own head much like how Ambrose read the scriptures. With the connection between Ambrose and the way he read the scriptures and the speaker of the poem and his reading of the information plaque it is then implied that the text that the speaker is reading is considered to be sacred, for it contains knowledge. Knowledge is considered to be the best fighting force against ignorance, for the more knowledgeable one is about the world around them, the more they would be able to do in order to better themselves and their surroundings. By taking the time to read this plaque, the speaker is able to gain a little bit of knowledge that makes them more aware of the inner workings of the world, thus being able to realize the truth behind the mechanical nature and uninformed ignorance that the people around them demonstrate with their reactions and lack thereof. The speaker also calls attention upon the “blind mule within [them] / always circling in the dark” and how they themself are the mule (21-22). In calling themselves the mule, the speaker is connecting its mechanical nature within the carousel to how they go about their daily life, constantly wandering around, blindly and without direction but knowing that they …show more content…
As the speaker comes to understand the origins of the carousel and the mule, they notice that “The sky did not darken with this news / nor did a general silence fall on the strollers” in the park around them and that “no one even paused to look [their] way” (13-14, 16). These specific phrases in relation to the speaker displays how the speaker themselves are alone in this realization, creating an emotion of loneliness surrounding them. No one in the surrounding area seems to care enough about the plight of the blind mule and how it had been used for human entertainment, illustrating how people’s ignorance leaves those who are knowledgeable alone with nothing but their thoughts. Also, as the speaker was leaving the scene of the carousel at the park, they sang softly to themselves “Poor blind beast… poor blind me, poor blind earth turning blindly on its side” in reflection of the newfound awareness for the world around them (34). The specific way in which this phrase was worded coupled with the language used conjures an emotion of pity that the speaker feels towards the themselves, the mule, and the Earth. The speaker sees how the people around them are completely blind to the darker and less appealing parts of the world, choosing instead to ignore the open sources of information that is
In the short story “Circus in Town”, it depicts the life a young girl named Jenny who grows up in the improvised section of town. Despite her poor lifestyle Jenny stays positive through her use of imagination and clear mind. All it took to change her perspective of her life was a simple piece of paper from the circus. Despite her family’s circumstances, she does not try to avoid her lack of money or social status but rather creates her own ideal lifestyle she believes is perfect. Her life would be filled with horses that wore “silver bells on reins and bridle”(para 24) and her very “own circus”(para 22). This shows how Jenny is trapped in the fabricated
In this poem, “On the Subway”, written by Sharon Olds brings two worlds into proximity. We will identify the contrast that develops both portraits in the poem and discuss the insights the narrator comes to because of the experience. The author refers to several literary techniques as tone, poetic devices, imagery, and organization. The poem talks about a historical view based on black and white skin. It positions the two worlds the point of view of a black skinned and a white skinned. The boy is described as having a casual cold look for a mugger and alert under the hooded lids. On the other hand, based on his appearance the white skinned person felt threatened by the black boy. She was frightened that he could take her coat, brief case, and
“Immigrants at central station, 1951”, this poem is about the Skrzynecki family waiting to depart on a train at central station to a migrant. The first stanza describes the time and the atmosphere of the where the family were the family is situated. The poem begins by capturing a brief moment in time from the whistle declaring its arrival to the scene of leaving with it. “It was sad to hear the train’s whistle this morning” these words provoke sadness where it usually brings joy. This tell us that the Skrzynecki family were sad due to the fact that they were about to travel to the unknown. “All night it had rained.” The imagery in the first stanza is depressing, the poems tone here is sad. As the poem goes on it says, “But we ate it all” the metaphor here is used for positiveness. No matter how depressed they were they still enjoyed it. The second stanza is about
Jacob Riis’ book How the Other Half Lives is a detailed description on the poor and the destitute in the inner realms of New York City. Riis tries to portray the living conditions through the ‘eyes’ of his camera. He sneaks up on the people flashes a picture and then tells the rest of the city how the ‘other half’ is living. As shocking as the truth was without seeing such poverty and horrible conditions with their own eyes or taking in the experience with all their senses it still seemed like a million miles away or even just a fairy tale.
Mark Peterson’s 1994 photograph, Image of Homelessness, compares the everyday life of the working class to the forgotten life of the lowest class in society. In the image, the viewer can see a troubled homeless man wrapped in a cocoon of standard manipulated 12in by 12in cardboard boxes and yarn. The yarn is what is keeping the man and box tied to the red bench. This bench has chipped paint and is right in front of a black fence. Underneath the bench is dirt and debris from the dead fall leaves. The center focal point is the homeless man on the bench. He is the focal point because he is the greatest outsider known to man. Behind this man is vibrant life. There is pulsating people crossing the clean street, signs of life from all the advertising on store windows, families walking and blurred cars filled with
When people think about homeless individuals, they think of people begging on the street, but not of the thousands of children located in public schools. When reading the “Invisible Child” in The New York Times, Andrea Elliott publicizes that not all homeless people are necessarily begging for money out on the street, but some are living without other people realizing their misfortune. Understanding that not all homeless people are begging for money relates to “The Narrative of Imagination” written by Martha Nussbaum which shows presenting people’s stories allows individuals to understand and empathize with other’s perspectives, resulting in people becoming more open- minded. She believes that empathy develops from sharing stores and people
was found guilty and hanged (Dieters, 2012). Seven years later, Fitzpatrick’s former roommate confessed to the murder on his deathbed. Residents of Detroit were outraged that an innocent man had been put to death. Then, two years following Fitzpatrick’s execution, another Detroit resident, Stephen Simmons, was tried and convicted of killing his pregnant wife during a drunken rage. His execution was made into an event resembling a carnival, complete with a band, local merchants selling their goods, and a seating section for spectators.. When asked if he had any last words, Simmons recited a poem. His “appeal to the heavens” shocked witnesses. The execution was called “cruel and vindictive” by onlookers. The result of these two cases was an
Billy Collins is one of the most credited poets of this century and last. He is a man of many talents, most recognized though by his provocative and riveting poetry. As John McEnroe was to the sport of tennis, Billy Collins has done the same for the world of poetry. Collin’s rejected the old ways of poetry, created his own form, broke all the rules, and still retains the love and respect of the poet community. Collins has received the title of Poet Laureate of the United States twice and also has received countless awards and acknowledgements. He has achieved this through a style of poetry that is not over-interpreted and hard to understand to most, but that of the complete opposite, his poetry is hospitable and playful.
There are a few similarities and differences in this comparison of the poem “Casey at the Bat” and “David and Goliath”. The first similarity of these two passages is they were both very confident in themselves. For example, in “Casey at the Bat” it says, ”There was pride in Casey’s bearing and a smile on Casey’s face. And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat.” Casey is confident because he has pride and confidence in himself when he goes up to bat. Meanwhile, in “David and Goliath,” verse 46 states, ”Today the Lord will help me defeat you. I’ll knock you down and cut off your head, and I’ll feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals.” David is confident because he believes that the
William Stafford in my mind, a visionary seeking to enlighten us through words he wrote in the poem, he talks his travels down a dark road only to find a dead deer on the road. In the poem he talks about how he moved the deer out of the dark road and pushing it down a hill. The poem is great at making you visualize what is happen as you read it. In this essay I will dissect the poem’s deep and dark stanza’s and state what the poem means.
This viral video titled “The Homeless Child Experiment” has a total of 14 million views and counting (Erakat). This video clearly displayed the lack of understanding and sympathy many people have towards homeless individuals. The video staged a young 12 year old boy holding a cardboard sign in a busy sidewalk and asking for money. After several of hours, only one person took out $2 for the young kid (Erakat). This experiment displayed the lack of motivation pedestrians had for the young boy. Many of them criticized the young boy for being “lazy” and “looking like a criminal” (Erakat). This type of rationalization further reinforces the American stereotypes developed because of its promotion in
The line “We Sing sin. We Thin gin.” is in the middle of the poem “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks. Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1917, but moved to Chicago when she was young (“Gwendolyn Brooks”). Brooks was a well known poet and also a teacher; She was the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. Throughout her career, she received many honors and awards. Many of Brooks’ work displays a political consciousness, especially from the 1960s and later, several of her poems reflect the civil rights movement. The poem “We Real Cool” is completely different and it’s quite short with only four stanzas. It describes the modern youth and what the “cool” kids typically do. In the second line
The imagery was so clear that the reader feels as if they are there. He writes, “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,/dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix” (Section 1). The reader could see our “best minds” falling apart, our future being thrown onto a completely different road, where they might experience thousands of ups and downs, which could end up to the destruction of the world (Section 1). If the best minds of his generation are starving, naked and are dragging themselves through the streets that means that the future is not safe and if the future is not safe then that means the world will be destroyed. “ who wandered around and around at midnight in the railroad yard wondering where to go, and went, leaving no broken hearts,/ who lit cigarettes in boxcars boxcars boxcars racketing through snow toward lonesome farms in grandfather night” (Section 1). This quote was just a small part of the description that was given in the poem. The majority of the first section was just giving description about the best minds, and it is so
Can a song be a poem? Many people have asked this question, and I may have found an answer. Words in poems go against the context of silence, whereas lyrics take place in the context of musical information: melody, rhythm, and instrumentation. I have found “Singles You Up’’ by Jordan Davis is a poem because of the imagery, rhyme, and thematic statement worded throughout the song. Many composers can recognize the essential qualities of language in poetry, applying it to their song lyrics; however, even as some song lyrics can become a poem when you take away the instrumentals, not all can be considered a poem.
For this assignment, I have decided to write about a famous poem of Billy Collins which is titled as ‘Introduction to Poetry’ written in 1996.