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Critical Analysis #1
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thunderstruck9
Junior Member
since 1999-11-09
Posts 11


0 posted 1999-12-04 01:21 AM



I'm reading a book, my back against a tree.
It's a perfect day when a voice comes to me.
"He's still unconscience, it doesn't look too good."
I'm all alone, maybe someones in the wood.
I get up to see, everything fades black.
In a field of flowers, no colors do lack.
I remember nothing, it's a lovely day.
I'm picking flowers when I hear someone say.
"He's too far gone, you'd be doing a favor."
A beautiful day, enjoying the flavor,
A freshly picked apple found without trying.
I hear muffled sounds of a woman crying.
Painting a picture, it's a boat, it's a tug.
I hear it said "It's over now, pull the plug."
Another perfect day, I'm in my own park.
I understand it now as my world goes dark.


Yes, I like poems that rhyme.

------------------

From the darkness arose a man.

© Copyright 1999 thunderstruck9 - All Rights Reserved
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
1 posted 1999-12-04 08:09 AM


You've done a good job putting a person in the place of getting by day by day, when dealing with a crisis. I speak from experience.

"Unconscience" should be "Unconscious"
"someones" should be "someone's".

Other than those two suggestions, I found it to be very comforting to know that one is not alone in the world, even at times like this, when you feel you are.

I enjoyed this. Thank you.

------------------
Sunshine
Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Brad
Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705
Jejudo, South Korea
2 posted 1999-12-08 08:48 PM


I admit the couplets here give the poem a certain ironic feel but 'tug/plug' seems too forced.  I would also say that you need to clean up your meter to create a better flow, a better rhythm.

It's hard for me to picture what's happening; is the park some final just before death fantasy and all the action in the poem is in your head?  I would think about trying to make that clearer.  Also, I would think about trying to show some motivation for the speaker's dilemma.  What brings him here?

I admit I'm not a big fan of suicide poems; they seem to lack a certain tension and almost always a sort of calm inevitability to the situation which does not work in your favor when attracting readers.

Just an opinion,
Brad

thunderstruck9
Junior Member
since 1999-11-09
Posts 11

3 posted 1999-12-08 09:11 PM


It's not about suicide. It's a guy that was in some kind accident. He's in a coma and going down. But in his mind he's in paradise. He's hearing voices from family in his hospital room. I admit the lines about the tug & the plug kinda, well, suck. I wanted a line with the decision to let him go, and I couldn't get the word "plug" out of my head. I'll try to improve those two lines later. Thanks for your & Sunshines' thoughts.  < !signature-->

 
From the darkness arose a man.


[This message has been edited by thunderstruck9 (edited 12-08-1999).]

Willem
Member
since 1999-11-18
Posts 139
Inverness, FL, USA
4 posted 1999-12-08 11:22 PM


Oh man! These dreams happen to others too.
I went through the same experience, except
my wife kept them from pulling the plug on me. And when I returned to reality she stood
there smiling at me...  Thanks for reminding
me of that event, my friend.  I share Brad's
view on rhyme and rhythm here, though.

Willem

Brad
Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705
Jejudo, South Korea
5 posted 1999-12-09 12:36 PM


Well, I guess this is a classic example of how expectation in reading can lead you in the wrong direction.  Instead of thinking that it wasn't a suicide poem, I just said it didn't make any sense -- boy, that was stupid. I should have tried to reread it with  a less narrow mind.

Hey, nobody's perfect.

That said, I still think you could try to show some tension to increase the overall effect.

thanks,
Brad

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