"The Modern Prometheus"

“The Modern Prometheus” by JJ Kampf is a contemporary work of art combining a careless tone with imagery and metaphors to remind readers to have fun and take advantage of life. The two toddlers are watching television like hawks which brings up the feeling of utter focus and dedication. They are determined to extract as much enjoyment from it as they can. “Midnight looms like New Year’s Eve”, New Year’s Eve is a time of big change and is the culmination of a long and hopefully productive year. By comparing New Year’s Eve to midnight, the speaker puts a much darker twist on New Year’s Eve, having it looming overhead as death looms over life. The toddlers “litter” toys around the living room which arouses images of carelessness and trash. However, “because they smiled” Johnny did not care, he was happy that they were taking advantage of the fact that their parents were out and having fun. Using imagery coupled with metaphors, JJ Kampf masterfully tells the readers to remember to have fun and take advantage of life.

“Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter”

“Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter” by Robert Bly uses imagery combined with a comforted tone to convey the feeling of being happy and alone. “A cold and snowy night” is reminiscent of one’s childhood and curling up in front of the fireplace with hot chocolate and feeling extremely cozy safe from the outside. However, not only does the speaker feel safe, he also acknowledges the harsh reality of the “cold metal” which is not only cold and unforgiving but it will also attach itself to one’s tongue. The speaker talks about his “privacy” that he “loves” which is a very intimate word. He is saying that he is adores the familiarity that comes with being alone with his thoughts. Robert Bly ends the poem saying that not only does the speaker love being alone, he will go out of his way to be alone for longer. This poem clearly shows the feeling of being happy and alone by describing the intimacy and safety of one’s own thoughts through imagery.

"Snow"

“Snow” by David Berman showcases a child’s persistence through repetition and imagery with an inquiring tone. The speaker and his little brother are walking through a snow covered field which brings about feelings of tranquility and images of purity. When the speaker’s little brother, Seth asked the speaker “Who had shot them?” talking about the angels that the farmer shot. Then they went out onto the lake and the ice was so clear that it was “like a photograph of water.” This brings up images of ice skating and fun times but still, Seth asks “Why did he shoot them?” and the speaker answers that they were on his property. He is just repeating his question until he can understand the entire situation. Later, as images of bombs and other distracting things pop into the reader’s head because snow makes the outdoors seem like a “room with the walls blasted to shreds and falling.” Seth returns to his repetitious question and asks why they were on the farmer’s property. The combination of repetition and imagery clearly showcase a child’s persistence because Seth does not stop asking direct follow up questions on the speaker’s answers even while distracting things are happening.