DDCPoetry

Original poem reprinted online here: "Rule Book" by Lauren Shapiro Originally read: March 2, 2013 More information about the Poet: Lauren Shapiro So this poem can be mistaken from a found poem because most of the lines are rules to some things like amusement parks or being a model (the usual troubles of regular citizens), but there are some lines here that take away from the sense of the "found" and more of the "constructed" through the use of hyperbole and litotes.  The game, in a sense, is to separate the realistic from the constructed.  Also note, that rules are made by authority figures and, in some point in the poem, the authority changes. 1) "At the age of ten you will be allowed / in the deep end."  -- internal rhyme brings a innocuous feel to the line.  Also this shows that the speaker is addressing someone.  Within the next couple of lines, the personal "you" and the speaker will disappear from the poem and the focus will be o...

Original poem reprinted online here: "They Promised Me A Thousand Years of Peace" by Lauren Shapiro Originally read: February 23, 2013 More information about the Poet: Lauren Shapiro As I was going over my notes, I noticed that I didn't reference the title how I usually would.  I do reference the title though as maybe alluding to something religious.  However, I don't reference who the "they" are or actually wonder who "they" represent.  Instead, past me focused on the "core" of the poem which is "defining nothing and the act of riddance."  I think past me came up with this conclusion through the last line of the poem, "See, you trip on yourself an exact number of times / each day, but who else is counting?" which I refer to as the "'crux is else' antagonizing the 'you' that believes." I can see the points, however,  after rereading this poem, I think math plays a big part in this poem.  Then ...