Football by Louis Jenkins
I take the snap from the center, fake to the right, fade back...
I've got protection. I've got a receiver open downfield...
What the hell is this? This isn't a football, it's a shoe, a man's
brown leather oxford. A cousin to a football maybe, the same
skin, but not the same, a thing made for the earth, not the air.
I realize that this is a world where anything is possible and I
understand, also, that one often has to make do with what one
has. I have eaten pancakes, for instance, with that clear corn
syrup on them because there was no maple syrup and they
weren't very good. Well, anyway, this is different. (My man
downfield is waving his arms.) One has certain responsibilities,
one has to make choices. This isn't right and I'm not going
to throw it.
Analysis:
Speaker: The speaker is the quarterback. He is the king on the playing field in charge of everything that happens from passing to running. His unique perspective is that he can see the entire field in front of him and make responsible decisions. We know the speaker is the quarterback because he is the one taking the snap and he is the one deciding who to throw to.
I take the snap from the center, fake to the right, fade back...
I've got protection. I've got a receiver open downfield...
What the hell is this? This isn't a football, it's a shoe, a man's
brown leather oxford. A cousin to a football maybe, the same
skin, but not the same, a thing made for the earth, not the air.
I realize that this is a world where anything is possible and I
understand, also, that one often has to make do with what one
has. I have eaten pancakes, for instance, with that clear corn
syrup on them because there was no maple syrup and they
weren't very good. Well, anyway, this is different. (My man
downfield is waving his arms.) One has certain responsibilities,
one has to make choices. This isn't right and I'm not going
to throw it.
Analysis:
Speaker: The speaker is the quarterback. He is the king on the playing field in charge of everything that happens from passing to running. His unique perspective is that he can see the entire field in front of him and make responsible decisions. We know the speaker is the quarterback because he is the one taking the snap and he is the one deciding who to throw to.
Diction: The words in the poem are very quick and to the point. They all have to do with ultimately making the final decision. The author makes it very easy to see an image but just as fast as it comes into your mind it slips away.
Imagery: The imagery the author gives of the entire field and everything that is happening leads up to the quarterback's final decision. Like said previously the imagery is very to the point and quick to understand. It is also fast paced, but the imagery get slower around line 8. "I have eaten pancakes, for instance, with that clear corn syrup on them because there was no maple syrup and they weren't very good. Well, anyway, this is different." The speaker's mind drifts away from the fast paced action, but jumps right back in when his man downfield is waving his hands.
Figurative Language: The figurative language is the imagery. This poem has lots of it. It is also metaphors in the middle of the poem like when the author compares having to make do, with corn syrup instead of maple syrup.
Meaning: I think the meaning of the poem is that in a difficult situation you must not give up, instead persevere and make good decisions with what you got.
No comments:
Post a Comment