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…
this way of thinking in the utilization of vivid imagery, descriptive metaphors, and specific word choice order to illustrate the ignorance of mankind towards the unseen and unknown in conjunction with the mechanical nature of the human existence. The utilization of auditory, visual, and olfactory imagery within the poem aids in attaching a connection with the speaker and their observations and thoughts with the concept of mankind’s mechanical nature and blatant ignorance. As the speaker comes to understand how, in the olden days, a carousel was powered by a blind mule who turned the ride from a room directly beneath it, they notice how “ a general silence [did not] fall on the strollers / or the ball players one the green fields” as this very somber fact reverberated around in their head (14-15). The auditory imagery that is at play in these lines of the poem put forth the idea that the people in the park are oblivious to the purpose of the blind mule and are, thus, unaffected by such a fact in the same way that the speaker is. The white noise created by these bystanders illustrates the unintentional ignorance that many members of mankind partake in. These passersby are seemingly too busy with their own daily lives that they cannot take the time to read the information available to them about the blind mule, so they go about their daily lives without the knowledge of this darker truth. Visual imagery is another form of imagery that Collins had decided to insert into his poem. The speaker reflects upon the“blind mule within [themselves] / [that is] always circling in the dark,” an idea drawn from the image of the blind mule forever turning the carousel (21-22). The image of the blind mule aimlessly turning circles in the dark demonstrates the feeling of mechanical monotony that the speaker feels on a day to day basis. In this instance in the poem, the mule is the actual motor of the carousel, and thusly a part of the machine. In connecting themselves to the mule in such a way, the speaker is becoming aware of their own mechanical nature as nothing more than a cog in the machine of life. They often feel as if they are running in circles without any sense of direction, hoping that they somehow end up in any place but where they are now. It reflects upon the mechanical nature of the human experience itself, where people simply wander aimlessly through life without a true sense of purpose or sense of direction, often times coming right back to the place where they started. The images that Collins illustrates within his poem convey certain sensory responses, like vision and sound, that create an atmosphere that demonstrates the ideas of mankind's mechanical nature and oblivious ignorance. Collins’ application of metaphoric language within his poem illustrate the speaker’s mentality towards the ignorance displayed by humankind. As the speaker reads the plaque near the carousel that contained the information about the blind mule’s purpose, they read it with “[their] lips moving silently like the lips of Saint Ambrose” (4). Saint Ambrose is the patron saint of Milan, and was the person who was the first person to read silently to themselves rather than out loud when he would read the scriptures in Mass.
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…
must continue on. It demonstrates the speaker's understanding of the human condition, as well, and how humans are robotically running blind circles in the dark without any true motivation other than the fact that they know that they must do it. Collins also includes metaphor in describing the “poor blind earth earth turning blindly on its side” in order to portray an idea of a world that runs solely on the automated actions of its inhabitants (34). In this particular occasion in the poem, the rotation of the Earth is linked to the rotation of the carousel in Central Park. As the Earth rotates, life goes on on the surface as people go about their daily lives much as the blind mule: without motivation or purpose and simply going through the motions of daily life. The people on Earth are nothing but working motors and pistons which in turn affects the way in which our world functions. In this way, the Earth in this poem is the carousel, with its world on the surface functioning with the work of the millions of blind mules aimlessly and mechanically moving through life. The metaphoric language utilized in this piece serves to provide descriptive and interpretive means in order to understand Collins’s notion of the overactive mechanical nature involved within the human existence as well as understanding the effects of ignorance on a population. The way in which Collins includes specific words and phrases that evoke emotions of loneliness and pity in connection with the ideas of the automated character and ignorance of humanity.
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
available to them, like the plaque in the park. The speaker pities himself, as well, for they are now self-aware of their own mechanical nature and realize that simply going through life in a cycle is not truly living. The way in which Billy Collins presents his poem “Central Park” illustrates the ideals of human mechanicality and ignorance of the bad parts of life with the usage of word choice, thought-provoking metaphors, and vivid imagery. The way in which Collins presents his ideas on the blights of humanity within this poem remain vivid in one’s mind, the images and insinuations brought to attention staining the backs of our minds and forcing us as human beings to think about the less than savory topics in our world. Despite this, there will still be those who choose to ignore these plights and turmoils that many people in our world have to face for no other reason other than the fact that such information is far too sensitive for them to handle. However, those few people who choose to confront these darker truths about our world, like the purpose of the blind mule in a carousel, will be the ones who change our world for the better. After all, humanity is only as blind as it wants to be.
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
Kim Addonizio’s “First Poem for You” portrays a speaker who contemplates the state of their romantic relationship though reflections of their partner’s tattoos. Addressing their partner, the speaker ambivalence towards the merits of the relationship, the speaker unhappily remains with their partner. Through the usage of contrasting visual and kinesthetic imagery, the speaker revels the reasons of their inability to embrace the relationship and showcases the extent of their paralysis. Exploring this theme, the poem discusses how inner conflicts can be powerful paralyzers.
Today's world is filled with both great tragedy and abundant joy. In a densely populated metropolis like New York City, on a quick walk down a street you encounter homeless people walking among the most prosperous. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten the prosperous person will trudge straight past the one in need without a second thought. A serious problem arises when this happens continually. The problem worsens when you enter a different neighborhood and the well-to-do are far from sight. Many neighborhoods are inhabited only by the most hopeless of poverty - ridden people while others downtown or across the park do not care, or are glad to be separated from them. Such is the problem in New York City today and in Mott Haven in Jonathan Kozol's Amazing Grace. I have lived in New York City all my life and I had no idea that these problems were going on so close to home. If I live about three miles away from Mott Haven and I am not aware of the situation there, then who is?
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
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.
This darkly satiric poem is about cultural imperialism. Dawe uses an extended metaphor: the mother is America and the child represents a younger, developing nation, which is slowly being imbued with American value systems. The figure of a mother becomes synonymous with the United States. Even this most basic of human relationships has been perverted by the consumer culture. The poem begins with the seemingly positive statement of fact 'She loves him ...’. The punctuation however creates a feeling of unease, that all is not as it seems, that there is a subtext that qualifies this apparently natural emotional attachment. From the outset it is established that the child has no real choice, that he must accept the 'beneficence of that motherhood', that the nature of relationships will always be one where the more powerful figure exerts control over the less developed, weaker being. The verb 'beamed' suggests powerful sunlight, the emotional power of the dominant person: the mother. The stanza concludes with a rhetorical question, as if undeniably the child must accept the mother's gift of love. Dawe then moves on to examine the nature of that form of maternal love. The second stanza deals with the way that the mother comforts the child, 'Shoosh ... shoosh ... whenever a vague passing spasm of loss troubles him'. The alliterative description of her 'fat friendly features' suggests comfort and warmth. In this world pain is repressed, real emotion pacified, in order to maintain the illusion that the world is perfect. One must not question the wisdom of the omnipotent mother figure. The phrase 'She loves him...' is repeated. This action of loving is seen as protecting, insulating the child. In much the same way our consumer cultur...
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.