Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful People in a Mercedes" is a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, published in his collection "A Coney Island of the Mind" in 1958. The poem is a commentary on social and economic inequality, and uses the image of scavengers and wealthy people in a Mercedes to highlight the stark differences between the two groups.

Explanation:

The poem begins by describing two garbage collectors in a truck, who are stopped at a red light next to a Mercedes. The poem notes the physical differences between the two groups, with the garbage collectors wearing "red plastic blazers" and the Mercedes passengers wearing "hip three-piece linen suits." The poem then describes the interactions between the two groups, with the garbage collectors staring enviously at the Mercedes passengers, while the Mercedes passengers ignore them and continue their conversation.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the stark differences between the two groups, and the way in which wealth and social status create inequalities in society. The poem notes that while the Mercedes passengers may feel superior to the garbage collectors, their wealth and privilege do not necessarily make them happier or more fulfilled. In the final stanza, the poem imagines a reversal of roles, with the garbage collectors in the Mercedes and the wealthy passengers "grasping for a hold on the stainless / steel of the future."

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme scheme or meter. The poem is structured as a series of stanzas, each building on the themes of social and economic inequality.
• Imagery: The poem contains vivid sensory imagery that emphasizes the physical differences between the garbage collectors and the Mercedes passengers. The imagery is often stark and contrasting, highlighting the inequalities between the two groups.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is critical and satirical, as the speaker critiques the social and economic inequalities that exist in society. The poem emphasizes the emptiness of wealth and social status, and suggests that true fulfillment comes from more than just material possessions.
• Theme: The poem explores the themes of social and economic inequality, and the emptiness of wealth and privilege. The poem critiques the way in which wealth and social status create inequalities in society, and suggests that true fulfillment comes from more than just material possessions.

Conclusion:

"Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful People in a Mercedes" is a powerful and evocative commentary on social and economic inequality. The poem highlights the stark differences between two groups of people, and critiques the way in which wealth and social status create inequalities in society. The poem suggests that true fulfillment comes from more than just material possessions, and that the emptiness of wealth and privilege can be just as profound as the struggles of poverty and hardship.

Poem Snippet:

"Yet it is life, life, life,

the only one you've got,

you have nothing to spare,

but look at that boy sitting

next to you on the bus,

perhaps going to work"