Emigrated to America at the time of the "The Great Depression"
Birth was complicated described in "The Locket"came
out feet first instead of head first
Killing the pig
Description of slaughtering a pig
Opening is abrupt "The Noise"
Immediately the poet gives the pig a sense of identity by addressing
him as "He was pulled out" making it more dramatic
Then addresses the readers directly and assumes
what we are thinking "Don't say they are not
intelligent"
uses vivid imagery to evoke our
sympathy "They dig in their little trotters"
unique sound from the pig " That high pitched final
effort" last cry for help embedded in his memory
now
"a big plane roaring off a diva soaring towards her last note"
trying to compare words can't justify what he has to the
horrific noise
"full stop." end of the pigs life
"swiftly" repetion. It is a reoccurring procedure
"A child" Innocence and life
"walls of the farmyard still hold the scream"
Death is common on farms
Unwanted child
The locket
Troubled relationship with mother
Her death sparks the written of the
poem"Sing a last song for the lady who has
gone"
He feels at fault for mothers pain "the worst birth in the annals of
broklyn" guilt- afflicting pain "that was my cue to come only first
claim to fame"
Second stanza shows cold natured of mother
wanted a girl
"couldn't excuse my
double blunder" blaming
himself
"not readily forgiven "his so called sins
are not yet forgiven"
3 stanza"So you" change in conversation.
directing conversation towards his
mother
no love or affection shown towards son
"never nursed me"
abanded, hurt and pain "Then you gave me away might
never have known me"
efforts of mending broken
relationship"to court you like a young
man"
shows admiration for his mother in stanza
5 "lovely Molly, the belle of your small town"
shows sympathy for her "as the constant
rain that lashes it wound into your cocoon
of pain"
"Don't come again you say roughly I start to get fond of you,
John and then you are up and gone" spent life alone. emotionally damaged
understands her "Harsh logic"
"You wore an oval locket with an old picture in it of a child in Brooklyn" dispute a strange relationship
sense of optimism that mother still loves him.
The Cage
relationship with his father
Title: sense of imprissonment
"My Father" conversation
draws us in
"his face retained the pallor" unhealthy
appearance
"the lost years in Brooklyn" no
time for connection/relationship
"listening to a subway shudder the earth" life
dominated by the subway
"Traditional irish man" suggests
alcoholic
"released from his grille" highlights imprissonment
drank until he was drunk. "felt at home" suggests only
comfort is drink
4th stanza he returns and there is optimism that things
were the same again "when he came back we walked
together"
Relationship was never mended " did not
smile in the shared complicity"
mythical tale of Odysseus and Telemachus
often sees his father when he returns to the subway
through "the bars of the small booth"
Metaphor for there relationship as it spent most of
the time underground
Shows admiration
"and yet he picked himself up
most mornings"
All Legendary
obstacles
love poem
Realistic view of love
Geographical poem
gives us an epic tale of the obstacles are the natural
barriers of great America plans
Can be read on a symbolic level geographical distance = eustional distance physical obstacles
represent difficulties in the relationship
stanza 2: "By the San Francisco chief or golden gate, water dripping
from great flanged wheels" just as the train has to avoid obstacles so
does their love
"until our chilled hands met"
physically and emotionally cold
from separation
mountains ups
and downs
The same Gesture
Honest assessment of what love is
1st Stanza: loves appearance "there is a secret room" lovers
share "of golden light" richness of love
"love, violence" physical
traits
"hatred is possible and again love" love is
complex
though the world is mundane the memories of romances is never
forgotten
Title: indicates reoccurring gesture
"like court music" elegance of love
"nakedly" highlights intimacy
"work, phone, drive" back to reality
routine of everyday life