Zack Smith Per. 6 “Poetry180 Poems” Cartoon Physics, part 1 Nick Flynn Children under, say, ten, shouldn't know that the universe is ever-expanding, inexorably pushing into the vacuum, galaxies swallowed by galaxies, whole solar systems collapsing, all of it acted out in silence. At ten we are still learning the rules of cartoon animation, that if a man draws a door on a rock only he can pass through it. Anyone else who tries will crash into the rock. Ten-year-olds should stick with burning houses, car wrecks, ships going down -- earthbound, tangible disasters, arenas where they can be heroes. You can run back into a burning house, sinking ships have lifeboats, the trucks will come with their ladders, if you jump you will be saved. A child places her hand on the roof of a school bus, & drives across a city of sand. She knows the exact spot it will skid, at which point the bridge will give, who will swim to safety & who will be pulled under by sharks. She will learn that if a man runs off the edge of a cliff he will not fall until he notices his mistake.
I enjoyed reading this because it brings back childhood memories of waking up early and filling my mind with seemingly ruthless innocuous anvils that fall upon bugs bunny’s head. I also enjoyed the word choice in this poem because that’s what sparked the memories I had as a once little tike sitting in front of the television flabbergasted at what these characters do to one another.
Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter
Robert Bly
It is a cold and snowy night. The main street is deserted.
The only things moving are swirls of snow.
As I lift the mailbox door, I feel its cold iron.
There is a privacy I love in this snowy night.
Driving around, I will waste more time. I enjoy this poem because I enjoy the calm snowy nights. The ones where the snowflakes are thick and lightly falling to the sea of white already plastered to the streets. Maybe you do or you don’t know what I’m talking about, but either way I’m telling you this after a fantastic night of bowling, and going outside to what I described earlier, pure bliss.
The Bat
Theodore Roethke
By day the bat is cousin to the mouse.
He likes the attic of an aging house. His fingers make a hat about his head.
His pulse beat is so slow we think him dead. He loops in crazy figures half the night
Among the trees that face the corner light. But when he brushes up against a screen,
We are afraid of what our eyes have seen: For something is amiss or out of place
When mice with wings can wear a human face. I chose this poem strictly because of the word choice, it flows and I like that. But personally I don’t see how that bat has a human face, because when I see a bat I see a bat not a human. Also I like the word amiss and hopefully I can use it in an upcoming writing that I have to write in the vicinity of this page, or the next.
The Partial Explanation
Charles Simic
Seems like a long time Since the waiter took my order. Grimy little luncheonette, The snow falling outside. Seems like it has grown darker Since I last heard the kitchen door Behind my back Since I last noticed Anyone pass on the street. A glass of ice-water Keeps me company At this table I chose myself Upon entering. And a longing, incredible longing to eavesdrop on the conversation of cooks. I chose this poem because it said “snow falling outside.” And that just got me on the thought another time of what I wrote earlier. Which is good stuff right? Anyway the poem sounds like it is not so fun because the person went to the restaurant and is just hanging out with a glass of water, who does that? There are some weirdo’s out there Mrs. Clark watch out, especially if the only one keeping them company is a glass of water.
Per. 6
“Poetry180 Poems”
Cartoon Physics, part 1
Nick Flynn
Children under, say, ten, shouldn't know that the universe is ever-expanding, inexorably pushing into the vacuum, galaxies swallowed by galaxies, whole solar systems collapsing, all of it acted out in silence. At ten we are still learning the rules of cartoon animation, that if a man draws a door on a rock only he can pass through it. Anyone else who tries will crash into the rock. Ten-year-olds should stick with burning houses, car wrecks, ships going down -- earthbound, tangible disasters, arenas where they can be heroes. You can run back into a burning house, sinking ships have lifeboats, the trucks will come with their ladders, if you jump you will be saved. A child places her hand on the roof of a school bus, & drives across a city of sand. She knows the exact spot it will skid, at which point the bridge will give, who will swim to safety & who will be pulled under by sharks. She will learn that if a man runs off the edge of a cliff he will not fall until he notices his mistake.
I enjoyed reading this because it brings back childhood memories of waking up early and filling my mind with seemingly ruthless innocuous anvils that fall upon bugs bunny’s head. I also enjoyed the word choice in this poem because that’s what sparked the memories I had as a once little tike sitting in front of the television flabbergasted at what these characters do to one another.
Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter
Robert Bly
It is a cold and snowy night. The main street is deserted.The only things moving are swirls of snow.
As I lift the mailbox door, I feel its cold iron.
There is a privacy I love in this snowy night.
Driving around, I will waste more time.
I enjoy this poem because I enjoy the calm snowy nights. The ones where the snowflakes are thick and lightly falling to the sea of white already plastered to the streets. Maybe you do or you don’t know what I’m talking about, but either way I’m telling you this after a fantastic night of bowling, and going outside to what I described earlier, pure bliss.
The Bat
Theodore Roethke
By day the bat is cousin to the mouse.He likes the attic of an aging house.
His fingers make a hat about his head.
His pulse beat is so slow we think him dead.
He loops in crazy figures half the night
Among the trees that face the corner light.
But when he brushes up against a screen,
We are afraid of what our eyes have seen:
For something is amiss or out of place
When mice with wings can wear a human face.
I chose this poem strictly because of the word choice, it flows and I like that. But personally I don’t see how that bat has a human face, because when I see a bat I see a bat not a human. Also I like the word amiss and hopefully I can use it in an upcoming writing that I have to write in the vicinity of this page, or the next.
The Partial Explanation
Charles Simic
Seems like a long time Since the waiter took my order. Grimy little luncheonette, The snow falling outside. Seems like it has grown darker Since I last heard the kitchen door Behind my back Since I last noticed Anyone pass on the street. A glass of ice-water Keeps me company At this table I chose myself Upon entering. And a longing, incredible longing to eavesdrop on the conversation of cooks.I chose this poem because it said “snow falling outside.” And that just got me on the thought another time of what I wrote earlier. Which is good stuff right? Anyway the poem sounds like it is not so fun because the person went to the restaurant and is just hanging out with a glass of water, who does that? There are some weirdo’s out there Mrs. Clark watch out, especially if the only one keeping them company is a glass of water.