Rock-It Up Poetry Homework 2/21/14

1. Rock-It Up Poetry Homework 2/21/14 Jamie Weiner

2. “in Just-”By: E.E. Cummings DIDLS Diction: The diction in this poem is playful and cheery. Words such as “balloonman,” “mud-luscious,” “puddle-wonderful,” “spring,” and “dancing” indicate a light tone to the poem. The poem also has an underlying dark connotation with phrases such as “little lame balloonman,” “queer,” “whistles far and wee,” and “goat-footed.” These phrases create a twisted and somewhat mysterious tone with the connotation of a creepy old balloon man.

3. Images: The images in this poem help the reader to visualize what is happening in the poem. Imagery is essential to poems because it helps the reader to understand the meaning and tone of the poem. The reader can easily imagine: “spring” “balloonman” The sound of “whistles” “marbles” “hop-scotch and jump-rope” “goat-footed balloonMan”

4. Details: With the playful diction and fun images, this poem seems fun and cheery like childhood, but it contains a weird allusion that demonstrates the dangers of childhood. In the poem, the innocent children are outside playing games on a beautiful spring day and when they hear the “whistle” of the “balloonman,” they are drawn to him and stop their games. When I was a little girl this was like when children should not take candy from strangers. This poem highlights the fun of springtime but also the loss of innocence in children.

5. Language: The language in this poem is formal and figurative. The figurative language allows the reader to have a better grasp on the statement of the poem, the attitude of the speaker, and the connotation of the words. Some poetic devices are: Allusion: The “goat-footed balloonMan” is an allusion to Pan, the Greek god of the wild and nature. Pan has panpipes and when Pan blows his pipe, all the forest creatures come. When balloon man “whistles far and wee,” all the children come running. Metaphor: There is a metaphor in the poem with “the world is a puddle-wonderful” and “when the world is mud-luscious.” This metaphor is comparing the world to being great and wonderful during springtime. Repetition: The poem also contains repetition of the phrases “it’s spring,” “balloonman,” and “whistles far and wee.” The repetition of these phrases provide emphasis.

6. Sentence Structure: The structure of the sentences in this poem is in an odd format and shape. The shape gives the poem a happy tone, makes the poem fun to read for the reader, and also portrays the way a child talks. Some sentences also have much space or no space between words to add to the fun aspect. In the poem, the “balloonman” is giving out balloons and “eddieandbill” visit him, then “bettyandisbel” visit him. The poem shifts at the end when the speaker refers to the balloon man as the “goat-footed balloonMan.” The poem does not a rhyme or meter and the sentences flow together.