Assisi

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A poem which has genuinely shocked me is `Assisi' by Norman MacCaig. It deals with a beggar in desperate need of help but does not receive any. MacCaig gets his point across through his different ideas and devices.

The opening verse states what is physically wrong with the beggar. `sat, slumped like a half filled sack' This simile is used to create the image that he is deformed and floppy. The poet's use of 'on tiny twisted legs' gives the impression that the beggar is childlike and very innocent but also in pain.

Later in this verse we hear that the `dwarf' is outside the church which was built, to honour St Frances, who helped the poor. This is ironic as the beggar, who looks strange and unfamiliar is sitting outside a truly amazing and extremely beautiful building. The technique Norman MacCaig uses in this verse is juxta position because it is unexpected that the beggar would be begging outside the church of St Frances as opposed to on the streets. At the end of this verse the poet says the only advantage the beggar has over St Frances is that he is still alive, but to me this isn't at all a great deal because its not as if his life is very enjoyable or happy.

Further on in the poem the poet shows how gullible tourists are, they believe every word being said to them. As the priest is educating them on how the work of Giotto helps explain to the less educated what god is about and how they should help the less fortunate but we see that this is not the case. At this point the poet see's the truth `I understood the explanation'. Although he is just being sarcastic, what he really means is that he understands that the church only pretends to help the poor to make money. They go on about how they help them yet the beggar in need of help is sitting outside the church as he is not allowed too go in, this shocks and appals me as he is receiving know help at all.

MacCaig uses an extended metaphor at the start of the final verse to show how the tourists grasp every word the priest has got to say `fluttered after him as he scattered the grain of the word. 'It was they who passed the `ruined temple' and at this point the writer uses an accusing tone to get the point across that they give no thought to the real sufferer outside the church.

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