This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:
the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see beached skulls
the song nobody knows
because anyone who had heard it
is dead, and the others can’t remember.
Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
I don’t enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical
with these two feathery maniacs,
I don’t enjoy singing
this trio, fatal and valuable.
I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song
is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique
at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.
1. Initial Impression: My first reaction to the poem is being that the author feels as if she is entrapped in an uncomfortable situation, and wishes desperately to escape. The author keeps a secret, a deadly one. However this is secret is highly treasured and those who know about it die. The author makes a sort of plea, as if trying to escape a curse.
2. Line-by-line paraphrasing:
a. A song all
b. Would like to learn: this song
c. Is extremely tempting
d. This melody forces men
e. To jump in large numbers
f. Even if they see death is eminent.
g. This melody no one knows
h. Because anyone who had heard it
i. Dead, and others can’t remember
j. Shall I tell you a secret
k. And if I do, will you do me a favor
l. Free me from this jail?
m. I really don’t like it
n. Screaming on this island
o. Looking like a simple ornament
p. With these wild wings
q. I don’t enjoy the melodies
r. The sirens are deathly and priceless
s. I will release my secret to you
t. Only you
u. Get closer. This melody
v. Is a shout for help: HELP ME!
w. Only you are capable
x. You are distinct
y. Finally. Oh how sad
z. It is a boring song
aa. But it works all the time.
3. Syntax: The author uses alliterations such as “is irresistible” in the first stanza and “though they” in the second stanza. This poem is free verse due to no particular rhyme scheme or meter. The poem’s word choice is very picturesque. The poem’s opening stanza begins as if someone is about to tell a story, which is instantly created by the word choice The author uses words like ‘irresistible’ to describe the siren’s song and ‘bird suit’ to show as if the author was entrapped or jailed within.
4. Imagery: The author projects her ideas clearly in the manner of a story that is being told by a bird that is looking to escape, but one does not find this out until halfway through the third stanza. The way this poem opens is as if someone is about to begin a story. The opening line makes the reader imagine a beautiful melody that many would like to lend their ears to; it makes them want to hear what this “irresistible” melody is about. Later the reader finds him/herself as part of the “squadrons” that are jumping of a boat; one can almost picture oneself in a sort of pirate ship and see the “beached skulls” as water gently washes ashore. The narrator of the poem identifies itself as someone who is entrapped in a “bird suit” so the reader is suggested to imagine some sort of tropical bird narrate the tale. In the end of the stanza another creature is introduced; the “mythical trio”… the sirens are usually pictures as a group of three creatures that haunt for sailors and bring them to a fatal death. The poem concludes with a rather sarcastic “it works every time”, which leads the reader to imagine that the poor soul that was lured is no longer amongst the living.
5. Figurative Language: The author uses several symbols in this poem which include the song and the secret which can be a symbol of temptation, the beached skulls which can be a symbol of death (death at sea in particular).
6. Tone: The tone of this poem is rather dramatic and obscure with a clever twist and a rather humorous/ironic ending. The poem begins with the dramatic scene of “squadrons” of men jumping overboard to hear these beautiful songs by the sirens. The narrator is very clever for she slowly but surely lures in the chosen one for he is “unique” and is curious enough to listen to the ‘secret’.
7. Theme: The theme is
8. Conclusion: The poem begins with a story-like manner, as if inviting the reader to listen to a tale. The narrator then goes on telling the story of the many who listened to the siren’s song. Many “squadrons” didn’t mind the signs and continued to be hypnotized and lured in by the mythical creatures. The “boring song” in the end surely gets the men’s attention. Little did they know this would be the last melody to reach their eardrums.
2. Line-by-line paraphrasing:
a. A song all
b. Would like to learn: this song
c. Is extremely tempting
d. This melody forces men
e. To jump in large numbers
f. Even if they see death is eminent.
g. This melody no one knows
h. Because anyone who had heard it
i. Dead, and others can’t remember
j. Shall I tell you a secret
k. And if I do, will you do me a favor
l. Free me from this jail?
m. I really don’t like it
n. Screaming on this island
o. Looking like a simple ornament
p. With these wild wings
q. I don’t enjoy the melodies
r. The sirens are deathly and priceless
s. I will release my secret to you
t. Only you
u. Get closer. This melody
v. Is a shout for help: HELP ME!
w. Only you are capable
x. You are distinct
y. Finally. Oh how sad
z. It is a boring song
aa. But it works all the time.
3. Syntax: The author uses alliterations such as “is irresistible” in the first stanza and “though they” in the second stanza. This poem is free verse due to no particular rhyme scheme or meter. The poem’s word choice is very picturesque. The poem’s opening stanza begins as if someone is about to tell a story, which is instantly created by the word choice The author uses words like ‘irresistible’ to describe the siren’s song and ‘bird suit’ to show as if the author was entrapped or jailed within.
4. Imagery: The author projects her ideas clearly in the manner of a story that is being told by a bird that is looking to escape, but one does not find this out until halfway through the third stanza. The way this poem opens is as if someone is about to begin a story. The opening line makes the reader imagine a beautiful melody that many would like to lend their ears to; it makes them want to hear what this “irresistible” melody is about. Later the reader finds him/herself as part of the “squadrons” that are jumping of a boat; one can almost picture oneself in a sort of pirate ship and see the “beached skulls” as water gently washes ashore. The narrator of the poem identifies itself as someone who is entrapped in a “bird suit” so the reader is suggested to imagine some sort of tropical bird narrate the tale. In the end of the stanza another creature is introduced; the “mythical trio”… the sirens are usually pictures as a group of three creatures that haunt for sailors and bring them to a fatal death. The poem concludes with a rather sarcastic “it works every time”, which leads the reader to imagine that the poor soul that was lured is no longer amongst the living.
5. Figurative Language: The author uses several symbols in this poem which include the song and the secret which can be a symbol of temptation, the beached skulls which can be a symbol of death (death at sea in particular).
6. Tone: The tone of this poem is rather dramatic and obscure with a clever twist and a rather humorous/ironic ending. The poem begins with the dramatic scene of “squadrons” of men jumping overboard to hear these beautiful songs by the sirens. The narrator is very clever for she slowly but surely lures in the chosen one for he is “unique” and is curious enough to listen to the ‘secret’.
7. Theme: The theme is
8. Conclusion: The poem begins with a story-like manner, as if inviting the reader to listen to a tale. The narrator then goes on telling the story of the many who listened to the siren’s song. Many “squadrons” didn’t mind the signs and continued to be hypnotized and lured in by the mythical creatures. The “boring song” in the end surely gets the men’s attention. Little did they know this would be the last melody to reach their eardrums.
No comments:
Post a Comment