THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER

-Alden Nowlan.
Literal Comprehension
“The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” is only a one-sentence poem
composed by Alden Nowlan. The poet is sitting in his room. He is writing a poem.
He is so deeply lost in his writing.
He is writing about his love for his wife. At that time his wife comes suddenly into
the room. Her arrival disturbs his writing. He forgets what he is writing. So he is
angry with her. But he can’t express his anger openly. He silently curses her.
Interpretation
This is a very artistic and beautifully composed poem and not more than one
sentence. This poem shows that the art of peace of mind is the essence of
literature.
The concentration of one’s mind is non-renewable for composing the best poem.
He is trying to love his wife literary and didn’t open his anger against her for
breaking his worthy mood, which shows his sincere love towards his wife.
Critical Thinking
This is the poem where we can examine a discussion about another incomplete
poem inside an original poem. And this is a feature of this poem that I like the
most.
 But also I have some critical evaluations for this poem:
 Is there any reason to silently curse her, but not be honest with his wife?
 Is there a poem lost or a love he did towards his wife?
 Before the actual time, is the introduction of women a bad sign?
 Assimilation
After reading this poem I realize that a peaceful mind, deep concentration, and a
disturb-free environment are essential for an imaginative poet to compose a
great poem. I also got motivated to write a poem about any simple topic and
complete it in a unique artistic style. I learn that we must love our wives in real
but not imaginary.

METAPHORS
 - Sylvia Plath
Literal Comprehension
“Metaphors” poem is about comparing pregnant women with various kinds of
physical things to relate to the mental state and physical state of women during
the course of pregnancy. The pregnant speaker feels like an unsolved mystery
because she is confused about the gender of the baby. Her body is big and
rounded like an elephant, a big ponderous house, or a melon. She considers the
baby residing in her belly as precious as ivory and hopes for the good of the
unborn baby.
The state of the poem then changes to doubt and darkness. She calls her baby a
loaf that seems to be rising because of yeast. Likewise, she feels like a fat purse,
with newly minted money inside as the baby, which will be new to the world
when born.
Then the environment of the poem shifts to extreme sadness and a lot of negative
emotions. She feels that she is helpless like a pregnant cow because she is only a
means. She has eaten green apples to satisfy her desire to eat something sour.
The baby is inside but she doesn’t know when it comes out.
Interpretation
This poem has a very negative meaning on average. It is very creative to compose
a poem in nine lines as the period of pregnancy is also nine months. She might be
trying to explain it is how difficult to sustain a period of pregnancy. Females can
feel or compare their bodies to many identical objects when they are pregnant.
Similarly, she feels like she has eaten a bag of green apples, which mythically
refers to the forbidden fruit and we can say that she is not ready to be pregnant
and lose her freedom.
Critical Thinking
I must say, the ability of Plath to describe the entire period of pregnancy using
metaphors and limiting the poem to just nine lines is just an amazing work of art.
But actually, I am not impressed.
I have some issues with this poem:
 A mythical meaning of the green apple is sin in the “Book of Genesis”. So,
does she feels as if giving birth to a baby is against god?
 How any woman can curse herself for being pregnant because it’s a natural
phenomenon created by a god?
 Assimilation
Women are also a big part of literature and can render a great contribution. Now,
I realized how difficult is it to give birth to a baby for them. I came to know that it
takes nine months for a baby to be born.
I also knew how helpless she feels because she cannot do anything about this
inevitable thing. She feels like a means, that is used to satisfy somebody else’s
desire.
 MY PAPA’S WALTZ
- Theodore Roethke

 Literal Comprehension
“My Papa’s Waltz” is a poem by Theodore Roethke. The narrator felt the whiskey
on his father’s breath. He felt unpleasant but continued dancing. They would play
in the kitchen and when the pans fell down the mother would be angry.

His finger joint was damaged and when he missed his step, the boy’s right ear
would hurt. He would beat time on the boy’s head with his hard palm and take
him to bed. But the boy still held on to his father’s shirt.

 Interpretation

This poem states playful interactions between the father and son, the majority of
the poem focuses on the father’s drunken aggression toward the boy. The poem
is the story of a young boy revealing the hardships he has lived through with his
alcoholic father, while still possessing a great love for his dad.

Critical Thinking

Though this poem projects an uplifting story of father and son sharing a precious
moment together, waltzing around the house. I am not going to agree totally with
the poet about some of the tones. They are:

 How could they dance until the utensils get fallen in the kitchen?
 How could a child feel happy after being bitten by the father?
 How could a responsible member of the family act carelessly on their
children’s life?

Assimilation

Thus, throughout “My Papa’s Waltz”, I view the father as a loving, caring dad and
not a belligerent drunk. I believe that even though the son has been beaten
around the house by his hand, he still loves him and has the desire to be loved in
return.

EIGHT O’CLOCK
-A. E. Houseman
Literal Comprehension
The main character in the brief drama stood and heard the clock tower striking
the quarter bells every fifteen minutes. He is going to be executed early in the
morning at eight o’clock. He couldn’t sleep because it was hard for him to accept
his death. The bell was heard all over the town in the morning.

It pushed the people out reminding them of their duty. As the unavoidable hour
was coming near, he stood and counted the bell and cursed his luck because the
unpleasant event was about to occur. When the clock struck eight collecting its
strength, he was marked for certain death. 

Interpretation

In this poem, we can identify how time can kill a person at any moment. The
central idea here is that the coming new clock might be the dark side of a
pessimistic person.

Similarly, time spreads to every person, but the situational approach prepares
them as victims of adverse circumstances. We can also predict that morning does
not always shine but it can be a dark evening too, which symbolizes the negative
emotion of a depressed person.

Critical Thinking
I am impressed by the sense of the master image of the poet that the poem is
extraordinary for giving deep meaning to the relation between running time and
life and death.

But, I had also imagined some irregular philosophy of life in this poem. They are:

 Life and death are natural processes. So, why anyone should curse
nature?
 What nature is featured by the protagonist in this poem? Not clearly
justified.
 If the protagonist knows that time is limited and death is inevitable, why
should he curse his luck?

  Assimilation

Time flies like an arrow. After reading this poem I realized that we must not let
ourselves be executed by the flow of time.

Also, if we can’t fight against the power of pauseless time it is better to look at the
dark side of life. Because just living is not enough, one must have sunshine,
freedom, and a little flower in his life.
 BALLAD OF THE LAND LORD
-Langston Hughes

Literal Comprehension
“Ballad Of The Landlord” is a poem by Langston Hughes. There is a leak on the
roof of the negro tenant. The landlord has already been told about it. The steps
are broken down and the tenant falls down, but the landlord doesn’t.

To repair the house the landlord asks for plus ten bucks that he owes. Even after
getting more than that he will not repair it. He’ll get an expulsion order and throw
the tenant out.

The tenant claims that is no justice and the landlord can’t throw his belongings
out of the house. If the tenant beats him, the tenant will be arrested and
imprisoned. In the papers there will be big news with black headlines, “Man
threatens landlord, tenant held no bail, the judge gives negro 90 days in country
jail”.

 Interpretation

This poem tells the story of the foolishness and insensitivity of the landlord. The
landlord of the poem is a representative of the white race and the tenant
represents the black community.

The poem advocated that racial discrimination and other inequalities between
whites and blacks should be removed. The poem shows that even magazines and
laws are not in favor of blacks. In this way, the poem appeals to the rights and
freedom of black people.

 Critical Thinking

Though this poem represents the domination, suppression, and exploitation of

Are we ready to accept so easily the existence of social injustice in a highly

  Assimilation

After reading this poem I realized that people are very conservative. They create a
lot of difficulties. The caste feeling has socially degraded the people of a different
community.

So, I will not act as the landlord’s behavior but motivate and encourage all the
people to practice actual humanity and not be hypocrites.