Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

TRYING TO WRITE A POEM WHILE THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS MAKE LOVE, by DAVID WAGONER Recitation by Author Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"Trying to Write a Poem While the Couple Upstairs Make Love" is a poem by David Wagoner, an American poet and novelist known for his works that explore themes of nature and the human experience. Wagoner was born in 1926 in Ohio and has written numerous books of poetry, including "Trying to Write a Poem While the Couple Upstairs Make Love," which was first published in 2003.

Explanation:

The poem "Trying to Write a Poem While the Couple Upstairs Make Love" is a humorous and slightly awkward meditation on the challenges of creative work in the face of distractions. The poem describes the speaker's attempts to write a poem while the sounds of the couple upstairs making love intrude upon their thoughts. The poem also touches on the idea that creativity and the pursuit of art can be messy and imperfect, and that sometimes we just have to embrace the chaos and noise around us.

Poetic Elements:

Form: Free verse with no consistent rhyme or meter
Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the sounds of the couple upstairs making love and the speaker's attempts to focus on their creative work
Tone: Humorous and slightly awkward tone that captures the speaker's discomfort and distraction
Metaphor: Use of the sounds of the couple upstairs making love as a metaphor for the distractions and noise that can intrude upon our creative work

Conclusion:

"Trying to Write a Poem While the Couple Upstairs Make Love" is a playful and relatable poem that celebrates the messiness and imperfection of the creative process. Through the use of vivid imagery, tone, and metaphor, the poem captures the speaker's attempts to focus on their work in the face of distractions and noise. The poem challenges us to embrace the chaos and imperfection of the creative process, and to recognize that sometimes the most unexpected and unplanned experiences can inspire our best work.

Poem Snippet:

I'm trying to write a poem

while the couple upstairs make love.

Their bed is banging against my ceiling

like a door that won't stay shut.