Poetic Precis: "A Primer of the Daily Round"

Howard Nemerov, in “A Primer of the Daily Round,” discusses in a slightly humorous tone the importance of unity and remembering how we are all connected through an allusion to an elementary style of teaching used in pre-school. In Kindergarten and first grade, teachers teach students the ABCs through coupling the letters with keywords that are easy to remember, like A is for apple. Throughout this poem, Nemerov uses the same style but connects each letter to the following one. In line nine, he says “R lies to S, but happens to be heard By T…,” which shows how each letter of the alphabet is connected. Additionally, this message becomes more clear at the end of the poem, when he says “Who happens just now to remember A.” Nemerov brings the reader back to the beginning of the poem to remember how even A is connected to Z. The point of using this allusion is to depict how each letter is followed by another one, but still together as one unit. Howard Nemerov accomplishes his goal by showing how people can be one unit as well through his allusion to the ABCs.

Poetic Precis: "Biscuit"

In Jane Kenyon’s “Biscuit,” she explains in a powerful tone the importance of not becoming too dependent on someone else through her antithesis and simile. Throughout this poem, a dog and an owner have an encounter at feeding time. In the first stanza, there is a simile where Kenyon compares feeding the dog to a “priest offering the host.” This makes the reader feel as though the owner is at the mercy of the dog. However, this idea is contrasted in the second stanza where the owner has “power” and could have given the dog a “stone.” Kenyon contrasts the word “bread” and “stone” to highlight the power the owner has through his choices for the dog’s meal. It can be seen that the dog is at the mercy of the owner and has too much faith in him/her. Jane Kenyon conveys the idea that over dependence can be detrimental through antithesis and an important simile.

Precis: “Thanks For Remembering Us”

In “Thanks For Remembering Us,” Dana Gioia uses a troubled tone to describe how delicate relationships can be through a key rhyme and a metaphor comparing a relationship to a bouquet of flowers. In the first stanza, there is an end rhyme with the words “blunder” and “wonder.” Gioia draws the reader’s attention to this line because it alludes to the fact that relationships can be fragile because the people in the couple don’t trust each other. However, this idea is made clearer in the second stanza. Words such as “die,” “dry,” “sickly,” and “funeral” are used to portray the dying flower. The comparison is made complete when the couple says how the flowers were “accusing us of some small crime.” The flowers reminded them of their unstable relationship. As can be see from this poem, the metaphors and unique rhymes create the uncertainty couples can sometimes feel in a relationship.

Precis: "Grammar"

In “Grammar,” Tony Hoagland asserts with a jealous tone that young love can be challenging for those who are single and alone through his metaphors and allusions to certain aspects of grammar. In the first stanza, Maxine’s friends describe her sexual acts during the weekend with words like “conjugated” and “doing the direct object.” They feel left out and in a state of solitary. Additionally, the metaphor in the last stanza proves this statement. Hoagland compares fire to love. Just like fire, love is difficult to harness. Maxine’s friends are described as having “burned hands” and people who have “all tried to start a fire.” They haven’t found their true loves and therefore feel depressed by Maxine’s happiness. Tony Hoagland creates the feelings of lonesomeness and desire for love through his comparison and grammar references.

Precis: "The Modern Prometheus"

In “The Modern Prometheus,” JJ Kampf ascertains with a humorous tone that sometimes one must go against the rules to achieve ultimate happiness. He creates the idea through his unique style and allusion to the myth of Prometheus. The poem follows a similar style throughout its entirety. The babysitter discusses what the children are doing wrong, while spliced within the story are the directions from the parents. The children eat “sour chewies,” while the parents cautioned against any “sugary candy.” Although the babysitter goes against the parents, he/she does it for the sake of the children who “smiled.” Additionally, Kampf compares the rebellion of this babysitter to that of the titan, Prometheus, who gave fire to the people. The titan wanted the people to be happy, which is why it is alluded to in the poem. These two characters had the same intentions. JJ Kampf highlights the importance of rebellion for the goal of happiness through his allusion and style.

Precis: "In the Well"

Andrew Hudgins’ “In the Well” describes the importance of the struggle that ultimately leads to the result, by using a suspenseful tone. He uses antithesis and setting to create his theme. In the beginning of the poem, words such as “darkness,” “blood,” “iron,” and “gagged” are used. These words discuss hardship and struggle. However, at the end of the poem, Hudgins contrasts with the words “light” and “breath,” which show how the struggle was all worth it. The task of finding the dog was difficult, but the result is what pays off. Hudgins makes the theme even more relatable by setting the story to the savior of a neighbor’s dog. The child goes into the dark well, but comes out with success. The setting of the well adds to the theme. Hudgins’ choice of setting and antithesis develop the idea that anything worth it in life takes hard work and some pain.

Precis: "Snow"

In “Snow”, David Berman describes, in a personal tone, the innocence of two children, through the imagery and title of the poem. The title of the poem is "Snow", and throughout the poem, Seth and his brother walk across snow as well. The hue of snow is white. White connotes a sense of innocence and purity, which is one reason as to why “angels” are mentioned throughout the poem. The purity of snow helps to depict children and childhood in general as something simple and squeaky clean. The imagery of this poem helps to create David Berman’s message about children in their early stages.

Precis: “Cartoon Physics, part 1”

In “Cartoon Physics, part 1”, Nick Flynn discusses, in an informative tone, the innocence of children in contrast to adults through his unique structure and antithesis. The poem doesn’t hold any special format. The stanzas vary in sizes, and the poem lacks periods after sentences. The point of this style is to show the way children behave. They don’t stick to an order, but rather things are much simpler for them, which is why the style is simple. The antithesis of the child to the adult adds another layer. The poem describes men as complex creatures who can “pass through” rocks and not realize their “mistake” until they stare it right in the face. Children on the other hand, see everything more clearly and simple. They see everything at a base level. Through this antithesis and structure, Nick Flynn achieves his goal of depicting a child’s innocence and simplicity.  

Precis: "Publication Date"

In “Publication Date”, Franz Wright, in a optimistic tone, explains how each day holds a new opportunity, through his usage of antithesis. Throughout the poem, he contrasts many different ideas. He compares “die” and “live, “hate” and “love”, “lose” and “win”, “tomorrow” and “today”. His goal in these opposites is to depict how each day is different from the next. Some days will be the worst, while others will be full of happiness and life. Wright wants the reader to understand that each day holds promise and the events of tomorrow don’t shape today because they were totally different. Through this antithesis, Franz Wright creates the idea that each day holds something new.

Precis: "Hand Shadows"

In “Hand Shadows”, Mary Cornish, in a hopeful tone, discusses the idea of light overcoming darkness. She creates this notion through her unique imagery and setting of a camping trip shadow show to the cycle of life and death. Throughout her poem, she creates this life cycle through the father’s shadow art. The father depicts a swam killed by an alligator, but later depicts the life of another bird taking flight. This imagery shows the notion that life doesn’t stop with one loss, but rather new life is born. Additionally, the setting of shadow art adds another layer to her theme. Shadow art uses a light to shine through the darkness and create images. The father, by shining light in the darkness of the tent, depicts how even when there is darkness more light will come around. This can be scene in the description of a star that goes out, but more light is born. Mary Cornish accomplishes her goal of showing the prevailing light in a dark world.

Prometheus Poem: "Freedom"

Prometheus ventured from his pulpit

Like an eagle, he swooped down

To bestow his gift upon the people

He had gone against the gods, but didn’t care

The people deserved the flame

It was the fire of freedom

The people called him a savior, hero, upstander, dreamer

He preferred the name Dr. King

As shepherd cares for is flock, he cared for his people

The black people used his fire to start an internal one

Sadly, Zeus couldn’t stand the similarities he now shared with these people

He wanted the flame for himself

To him, the people were colored and unimportant

He had to respond to this rebellion

Zeus chose a man to take care of Prometheus

James Earl Ray chained the savior and protector of freedom to the Lorraine Motel

Forever connected, forced to languish as eagles swarmed

But, Zeus was mistaken and the message was missed

The fire wasn't extinguished

It was kindled and spread

Precis: "American Cheese"

In “American Cheese”, Jim Daniels, in a personal tone, recalls the importance of keeping in touch with one’s roots. He creates this idea through imagery of cheese and its comparison to different stages in life. The poem mentions two different types of cheeses. The first is the fancy, “gooey” cheese that is “speaking garbled tongues”. It is foreign,unique, and advanced. The second kind is the one from Daniels’ childhood, which is the classic american cheese with “sixty-four singles wrapped in wax” that he used to have for lunch. He says in the poem that he moved on from his childish cheese to the fancy ones as he grew older, but there is still the memory and the special feeling that the american cheese gives him. Although he may have grown up, he declares the importance of coming back home and staying in touch with memories through his experience with american cheese. Through Jim Daniels comparison of life to cheese, he accomplishes the goal of expressing the importance of remaining true to one’s foundations.

Precis: "Advice from the Experts"

In “Advice from the Experts”, Bill Knott, using a sarcastic tone, asserts that people who claim they are authority figures, don’t truly understand the full picture. He creates this idea through antithesis and irony. The first half of the poem focuses on the perspective of the individual, while the second half of the poem focuses on the perspectives of the “gawkers” and “experts” looking from above. Through the creation of these two sides, Knott depicts how two people can see something in two different ways. The group sees the person on ground level as a possible suicide jumper, while the person below just sees a bunch of people hanging off a building. This scene also creates a certain sense of irony as well. The people on the building are “perched, along its ledges”, which makes it seem as though they are about to jump. However, the irony is that they call out to the person on the curb to not jump. Their perspectives are quite confused because they don't see the whole picture. They just see their perspective. Bill Knott creates the notion that to truly understand someone, the group must step into the individual’s shoes, through antithesis and irony.

Precis:"Domestic Work, 1937"

In “Domestic Work, 1937”, Natasha Trethewey claims through a hopeful tone that although life might be dark at times, there is always hope. She creates this idea through usage of tenses and a key simile. In the first stanza, Trethewey uses past tense words, including “cleaned”, “stared down”, and more. However, in the next three stanzas, she uses present tense words, such as “dancing”, “washes”, and “clapping”. This shift helps Trethewey reach her goal. The past tense connotes the hardship of the past. The week was hard for the lady, but the past is in the past. However, the present holds much promise. This idea is captured in the last line of poem when the lady “beats time on the rugs”. It says how dust came up like “dandelion spores”, and each spore is like “a wish for something better”. The dandelion spores spread out and expand just like dreams and hopes do. This simile captures how the woman wants more for her life and hopes for “something better”. Through this simile and a tense switch, Natasha Trethewey describes how there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Precis: "Wheels"

In “Wheels”, Jim Daniels asserts in a wistful tone that time flies by fast and before one can realize what's happening, it is over. He proves his point through usage of a certain structure and symbolism. The poem has very short lines, with some lines even containing one word. This creates a look for the poem in which it almost seems like a straight line. This format fits the main idea of the poem because the poem discusses someone’s cars and vehicles throughout their life. The structure is almost like a road, but as seen from the length of the lines, the road feels short. The symbolism in the poem is created through the Daniels’ usage of a camera to capture his brothers picture at each stage of his life. The camera takes a picture of the brother as he drives away “waving”. The snapshot is quick, which signifies the brothers quick drive by. However, by the end of the poem, the brother doesn’t even have time for a picture because he is on his way out on his Harley. This signifies how this quick life goes by so fast that sometimes there isn’t even time for a single goodbye. Jim Daniels creates a theme of life’s shortness through his structure and symbolism of a camera.

Precis: "The Farewell"

In “The Farewell”, Edward Field ascertains with a solemn tone that obeying what society expects of us, can ultimately lead to our downfall. He accomplishes this goal through usage of personification, comparisons, and a first person perspective. The main example of personification can be found at the end of the poem. It says how the “ice meets again over my head”. The poem gives the ice human features because it wants to compare the ice to society. The ice just like society can swallow the individual. Additionally, by using a first person perspective, the poem reaches the individual with its personal message. The individual is just like the captain looking out to the ice. They can either walk onto it, which is what society wants of them or they can walk away. Field warns the individual to not make the same mistake. Through first person perspective, personification, and comparisons, Edward Field is able to create the idea that society can only lead us astray if we allow it.

Precis: "Bad Day"

In “Bad Day”, Kay Ryan with a hopeful tone discusses the hardships of being creative each day, through usage of a unique format. The poem has four major sections, although it flows in one complete stanza. The first section discusses how some days are good and some are not. The second section starts with “some days”, the third with “other days, and the fourth with “but some days”. The second and third section discuss moments of bliss and creativity for this tailor. In the fourth section, it can be seen how the tailor struggles with creativity, and the “idea nor material presents itself”. The structure highlights how in life there will be long time periods of creativity, but there will always be hiccups along the road. These hiccups are bad days. By starting each section with the word “day”, Kay Ryan is able to differentiate between good times and hards times. Through his choice of structure, Kay Ryan tells people to not get disheartened by bad days because there will always be better ones ahead.

Precis: "Neglect"

In “Neglect”, R.T. Smith conveys in a remorseful tone through usage of alliteration and sentence structure that one should not abandon a task, but rather remain consistent or else the goal will burn up in flames. He uses a decent amount of alliteration throughout the poem, such as the final line of “cardinal’s crest or cinders”. The alliteration helps to grab the reader’s attention to certain spots of the poem. Towards the end of the poem, Smith wants the reader to understand how the Red Delicious when cared for can be as bright as a cardinal’s crest or when left alone the wood of the dead tree will burn red like cinders. The alliteration helps to highlight instances of Smith’s neglect. The sentence structure is also unique. There are set stanzas, but the lines and sentences seem to break through these separations. The line “In the woodstove…I could not convince its limbs to render fruit?”, starts in the first stanza, but finishes in the second. The point of the this structure is for the reader to see the author’s neglect as well. The author neglected to complete his sentences in their set stanzas, which furthers his point of remorse over his neglect. R.T. Smith accomplishes his goal of showing what ignoring something can do, through his usage of structure and alliteration.

Precis: "The Bat"

In “The Bat”, Theodore Roethke uses a cautious tone to describe how one should take their life seriously and not party all night. He creates this theme by using end rhymes and a one key metaphor throughout. The poem is grouped into five sections of two. Each section has two end rhymes, such as “mouse” and “house”, “head” and “dead”, “night” and “light”, “screen” and “scene”, and “place and “face”. The rhyme of mouse and house depict how this person likes to be a mouse and sleep in his home during the day. However, two stanzas later, the rhymes of night and light depict how during the night there is light and celebration. The rhymes prove how this person is wasting his time; he sleeps the day away, but has festivities at night. The major metaphor takes the rest of the poem home. The person, the speaker is discussing, is compared to a bat/mouse. Bats and mice tend to sleep during the day and frolic around at night. The final line of the poem says “When mice with wings can wear a human face.” This seemingly proves how humans can behave in a similar manner to these creatures. They too can party all night and sleep during the day. Theodore Roethke warns people of the bad habits these actions can create through usage of a metaphor and rhymes.

Precis: "At the Un-National Monument Along the Canadian Border"

In “At the Un-National Monument Along the Canadian Border”, William E. Stafford claims in an indifferent tone, through usage of personification that battlefields and memorials aren’t always the best way to depict nationality because the nature around captures the beauty and pride of the country. Throughout the poem Stafford uses personification to give lifelike attributes to nature. He describes the grass as “joined hands”, the sky as “heroic”, and the air as “so tame”. His purpose in doing so is to portray how one doesn’t need human war heroes to truly appreciate a country. Rather, human traits of heroism can be found in the strength and beauty of the Canadian border. Through Stafford’s use of personification, he is able to convey how the beauty of nature should define a country.

Precis: “Do You Have Any Advice For Those of Us Just Starting Out?"

In “Do You Have Any Advice For Those of Us Just Starting Out?", Ron Koertge ascertains with a humorous tone through usage of a distinct format and second person perspective that one should experience life and go against the rules. The poem conveys this main idea through its unique structure and format. The stanzas do not follow any pattern at all. The lines in the stanzas range from one to five, which shows the idea that life is supposed to be unpredictable. Life isn’t set in stone with a certain schedule, rather life should be about going into the world and taking chances. The random structure captures this notion. Additionally, Ron Koertge speaks to the reader in a second person perspective. He uses the word “you”, which makes his message more personal. He doesn’t want people to simply read the poem and move on with life. He addresses “you”, the reader, to show how each person should take his message seriously. Through this perspective and structure, Koertge is able to shed light on how one should live their life to the fullest.

Precis: "Fight"

In her poem “Fight,” Laurel Blossom asserts with a carefree tone and through usage of opposites and rhyme schemes that it is perfectly fine for friends or even a couple to not get along on certain issues because difference is what makes them unique. Throughout the poem, Blossom puts two clashing ideas together, such as “married” and “free”, “hot” and “cool” and much more to show how different two people can be.  One person likes to be more careful and hard working, while the other enjoys the pleasures of life. One works in the garden while the other swims, but that is still fine. Their differences allow for a great relationship. Additionally the poem follows an interesting rhyme scheme, with every three lines rhyming with each other. These rhymes break the poem up into five different sections. The first two sections focus on the two different people as individuals, but there is a unique shift in the third the section. The third section starts to discuss both characters together. The point of this shift is to show how different people can still coexist. Through antithesis and rhyme scheme, Laurel Blossom shows how two different peas can still live in the same pod.

Precis: "The Blue Bowl"

In “The Blue Bowl”, Jane Kenyon generates a downcast tone, describing the death of a childhood cat through the use of similes, structure, and alliteration to depict how painful death can be. She starts off and ends off using similes. First, she compares burying the cat to primitives, and later she compares the reminder of a robin to an annoying neighbor who can never say the right words. Their cat obviously died while trying to eat a bird, and the robin chirping at the end of the poem is sad reminder to the cause of the death of their beloved pet. Kenyon also manages to shed light on the pain felt by the children through the usage of alliteration. The words “buried”, “bowl”, and “barehanded” show how the children felt empty as they laid the cat to rest. Additionally, the structure and breakup of the stanzas has no set form because death isn’t predictable. It doesn’t follow a pattern; it's erratic and pops up out of nowhere. The key similes, alliteration, and structure set throughout the poem reveal how surprising and hard death can be.