Pattern 5: Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead

"I don't think he's right. He's ready. I am not." lines 13-14

In this poem, the son and the father have two completely different views on death. The father sees death as a great opportunity. He will be able to start a new life in the presence of God. The son sees death as the ultimate end. He thinks that once he dies, that is it. Their views on immortality are different too. The father believes in a spiritual immortality, where as the son believes in a physical one.  There differences are clearly conveyed throughout the poem in lines such as, "he's ready. I am not." and "I don't think he is right." Although the tone seems to be pessimistic, I think the son will greatly miss the father when he dies. "I can't just say good-bye as cheerfully as if he were embarking on a trip," conveys that he doesn't know how to handle death. Through the son's description of the father's attitude, it seems that the father has been attempting to teach his son how to see death as a "new desire." But, the son cannot grasp the concept of afterlife.

Pattern 4: Delight in Disorder

"I see a wild civility; Do more bewitch me than when art is too precise in every part" lines 12-14

This poem was written sometime in the 1600's. During this time period, women were expected to look a certain way. Everything they wore had to reflect proper and modest behavior. It also had to be arranged in a precise and orderly fashion. Women were not aloud to stray from these fashion guidelines like women can today. That is what makes this poem so ironic. The speaker describes a woman that is dressed in chaos and disorder. This woman's time would have never accepted her "ribbons to flow confusedly," and "careless shoestrings." But, the speaker is enchanted by the way she looks. He finds her disorderly dress to be more attractive and appealing than the other prim and proper women.

Pattern 3: Lonely Hearts

"Can someone make my simple wish come true?" line 1

This poem seems to be very fitting with its title. These are a series of want adds or advertisements. In each one, it is clear to see the persons dilemma in finding the type of person they're seeking. It is very hard for people in the gay community to find love for many reasons. They may be ridiculed or disrespected for the way they are. Also, the single mother may have trouble meeting people since she is always taking care of her child. Each one poses a rhetorical question that inspires a sense of hope. The first question says that these advertisements are "Personals." I find this to be very ironic because each one appears to be anonymous. If it were truly personal, it would reveal much more than a single line description.

Pattern 2: Death, be not proud

"we wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die." lines 13-14

In this poem, the speaker personifies death and addresses it through an apostrophe. The speaker is firm in his belief that is nothing to be feared. He expresses this at the beginning of the poem, "though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so." He believes that death has no real powers in itself, rather it is a "slave to fate, chance, kings,and desperate men." The speaker expresses that death will never overpower us as humans. He supports this with the thought of after life. Jesus died for us so that we could live with him in heaven for all of eternity. The speaker argues that even though death may take our physical life, it will never rob us of our spiritual life with God. That is why he doesn't think death should be feared. We will be able to live with God for all of eternity regardless of how, when, where, or at what age we die.

 

Pattern 1: Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night

"Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." lines 18-19

The two quotes above are refrains. Each one provides advice at how to deal with the approach of death. "Do not go gentle into that good night," means live each moment to the fullest without the fear of death haunting you. "Rage, rage against the dying of the light," means don't let hardships or troubles prevent you from living your life. The speaker addresses multiple groups of people and advises each one how to deal with life before death. He tells the old not to let their age bring them closer to death. He implies that age shouldn't have limitations. He advises good men to live there life more thrillingly, and the grave men to not let their struggles hold them back. I think the speaker advises the wise men and the wild men in contrasting ways. He warns the wild men not to let death sneak up on them, and the wise men to not think about death to much. Its almost as if they need to meet in the middle. The repetition of the two refrain lines enforces the message of the poem: don't let the fear of death hold you back.