navwin » Archives » Critical Analysis #1 » (inspired by the Road)
Critical Analysis #1
Post A Reply Post New Topic (inspired by the Road) Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
rich-pa
Member
since 2000-02-07
Posts 317
New Orleans, Louisiana

0 posted 2001-04-05 09:21 AM



moving away from the heartlands
passing acres of field and pasture.
shantied up houses
rows of pines
knick-knacks for sale on the side of the road
feeling Beat like Kerouac
-Jack to be exact-
seeing this country and it's places
new sights new sounds new people new faces

the desire for the road collides with my soul
pack it up and get on the move
leave the world behind
eat at little diners in texas
-the southern deserts-
sleep in alleys in cali
-the pacific-
walk next to miles of corn and crop
-the midwest prairies-
drink in small bars in small fishing towns
-the eastern coast-
meandering back to the Swamps
to my culture on the Bayous
home.

To see it all, to live it all
and write a few poems along the way.

"freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose..." -janis joplin

© Copyright 2001 rich cooper - All Rights Reserved
Kirk T Walker
Member
since 2000-01-13
Posts 357
Liberty, MO
1 posted 2001-04-07 11:05 AM


Good idea.  Here are a few suggestions for improvement:

-try to avoid vague language ex: "acres of fields and pastures" tell me something that make me see, feel, (preferably not smell ha ha) these pastures, what is specific about them, what are they or what are they like, etc.
-lose the line "Jack to be exact" We either got the reference or we didn't and a first name won't help. Plus I liked the line "feeling Beat like Kerouac" and this line somehow overdid it for me
-I like the collision reference on the road, but I would try to rephrase it to be more visual and probably use something more concrete than you soul for it to collide into (the rest of the poem seems more concrete than this one line)
-lose the line "leave the world behind" which may or may not be an unconscious snatch from a popular song by Everclear ("we can live beside the ocean, leave the world behind, swim out past the breakers, watch the world die...").
I hope my comments are helpful.

Disclaimer: The preceding statement is just my opinion.


Tony Di Bart
Member
since 2000-01-26
Posts 160
Toronto, Canada
2 posted 2001-04-08 11:42 AM


I have to agree with Kirk about the Jack line and the soul line.  I think "soul" has been over killded and i think it can collide with something else more real more now. something that taht the reader associate with.

thanks
see ya

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Critical Analysis #1 » (inspired by the Road)

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary