Step+6

Using the "Steps for Close Reading Poetry" provided in class, **analyze each of the poems** you found for step 5.

Allen Ginsberg
 * "Two Sonnets"
 * Sonnet**

Renowned: (n.) Known or talked about by many people Stupendous: (adj.) Extremely Impressive Knell: (n.) The sound of a bell, especially when rung at a funeral or for a death Atomies: (n.) A skeleton or emaciated body

In Allen Ginsberg's "Two Sonnets," he juxtaposes evil and good in order to show his disapproval of modern cities and the modern viewpoints of society.

"Two Sonnets" begins with a couplet, showing the unfortunate location of the poet. The poet is in a place that he deems "Hell on earth" (1) that he is unhappy with. Rooming "in the renowned city," (4) he wants no part of the unholy fame that is surrounding him. Wanting to keep himself pure from the "[a]ngels in the air [that] / serenade [his] senses in delight," (6-7) he will not partake of any of the debaucheries that are all around him in the great city. Although the city and the streets "are burning everywhere," (10) in his room with his books, he can peacefully meditate on the works of the past with "poets, saints and fair / Characters" (8-9) that will constantly be giving him more knowledge. Ginsberg arranges this quatrain with personal delight at the beginning, but destruction at the end, similar to life. As things continue to burn, clarity and light outdo all forms of destruction. As he looks into light and trust the purity that comes from it, all the destruction that is surrounding him disappears. The final quatrain is juxtaposed with destruction at the beginning, ending with light and purity; once more, similar to life.

The second sonnet of "Two Sonnets" is presented after a tone shift in which the author goes from personal narrative to a chastisement of the major world cities. Beginning with an octet that gives out woe, anguish and a suggested repentance from major United States cities, he suggests that the United States is //the// major super power of the world, as it is in the poem (eight out of fourteen lines). Major cities in the United States like New York (mentioned twice), Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco are all mentioned as breakers of the law. All are given many woes and told to repent numerous times. The second sonnet is finished with a minor group of six lines that shows Europe's transgressions as well. Major cities including London, Moscow and Paris shall all pay for the transgressions done by their people. Ginsberg then states that "all cities then shall toll for their great fame," (14) insinuating that fame is the reason they have fallen into darkness.

Ginsberg's "Two Sonnets" shows the juxtaposition of good and evil and how the major cities of the world fit into those two categories. Society and moral (or immoral) viewpoints also help classify cities as one or the other.

As a **sonnet**, "Two Sonnets" arranges life and death in a natural way that all of us will eventually experience. In the same organized way, we all will see destruction yet find a solace among things that are pure and holy. ||

John Burnside
 * "Septuagesima"
 * Free Verse**

Septuagesima: (n.) Seventieth day, or the third Sunday before Lent.

In John Burnside's "Septuagesima," the poet uses profound and thoughtful diction to show his thoughts on what life would have been like before God created everything. He thinks on the purity and the holiness of the scene as he contemplates whether or not the ever-present knowledge of today's world is actually a good thing.

Burnside realizes that there was "silence / the day before Adam came" (1-2), and that everything in creation was pure with a "winter whiteness" (8) that was upon the whole of creation. God's creations, made of "gold skins", "newly dropped" (4) from his fingers, "still / implicit with the light" (4-5), are pure and not yet corrupt by the selfish ambitions of man. However, Burnside considers the possibility that purity is a curse, rather than a blessing. With a "winter whiteness / haunting the creation" (8-9), modern technological improvements would not have come to be; many things that we have come to know and love, like medicine, computers and even the pen, would not be around for us to enjoy because were we still pure, we would have no need of such innovations. Burnside then recognizes that perhaps we "might have known" (13) about all of this "before the names" (14), but then takes a humanist slant by saying that things might be better "beyond the gloss of things" (15).

John Burnside's "Septuagesima" shows deep thought on what life would have been like before the creation of Adam and his naming of the animals, but also considers what life would be like if we were to move "beyond the gloss of things" (15). His poem makes people who consider themselves religious to think about things before Creation.

As a **free verse** poem, "Septuagesima" is written similar to human thought. The poem is divided into several short segments that all offer insight into his overall thought of 'What would it be like?' as he seriously debates if whether purity is a blessing or a curse. ||

John Burnside
 * "Agoraphobia"
 * Lyric Poem** with **Allusion**

Agoraphobia: (n.) Anxiety disorder in which people have attacks of //intense// fear and anxiety.

In John Burnside's "Agoraphobia," he presents his struggle for his love who he has not been successful in capturing thus far. His poem was and is relative to anyone struggling with finding a partner, but it also teaches you self-control because many things can get in the way on your pursuit of a friend.

The poet is a polar opposite of his lover. His "whole world is all [she] refuse[s]," (1) as his world is "lucid," (17) "angelic and cold" (2). However, like most men, he falls into the pitfall trap of allowing true knowledge and wisdom (owls) to be stopped and thrown aside for sexual passions (fruit nets). This passion and hampering of knowledge is often done "out be the wire" (6) of the mental boundaries. Often people know what is right, but throw it aside for the worldly, fleeting pleasures of life. In order to try and impress she who would be his, he perform great manly tasks like "mending fences [and] marking out bounds" (11), although symbolically he is actually repairing the boundaries of his mind. He realizes that passions could be setting in, so he remarks his boundaries, ensuring that he does not step out, and nothing harmful steps in. The allusion to Eurydice shows that he loves her, but every time he turns to catch a glance at her, she isn't there. He will forever be struggling in vain in an attempt to find that which he loves. However, he will continue to pioneer through the seemingly endless struggle for love. Yet throughout all of his struggle, he will always return to his "lucid and cold" (17) world full of cacophony and intrusive, unwanted lights. All of his endeavors for love will eventually give him knowledge as great as the sea.

John Burnside's "Agoraphobia" shows the dangers of sexual allurement, and the true meaning of love. As one looks for love in a partner, he must always be watchful, keeping themselves chaste among the passions and feelings of this sensual world.

As a **lyric poem**, "Agoraphobia" presents a diction that can be put into song. If put into song, the tune would be very morose and melancholic as the writer struggles to understand how to successfully gain the love of his life. The **allusion** thrown in shows the pointless attempts he's making in order to try to get the girl. ||