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.