Love Poem

John Frederick Nims

Class Unit

Love Poem
1 2 3 4 ! & ( + 10 11 12 13 14 1! 1& 1( 1+ 120 21 22 23 24 My clumsiest dear, whose hands shipwreck vases, At whose quick touch all glasses chip and ring, Whose palms are bulls in china, burs in linen, And have no cunning with any so t thing "#cept all ill$at$ease idgeting people% 'he re ugee uncertain at the door )ou make at home* de tly you steady 'he drunk clambering on his undulant loor, .npredictable dear, the ta#i drivers/ terror, 1hrinking rom ar headlights pale as a dime )et leaping be ore apopletic streetcars 2 Mis it in any space, And never on time, A wrench in clocks and the solar system, 3nly With words and people and love you move at ease* 4n tra ic o wit e#pertly manoeuvre And keep us, all devotion, at your knees, 5orgetting your co ee spreading on our lannel, )our lipstick grinning on our coat, 1o gaily in love/s unbreakable heaven 3ur souls on glory o spilt bourbon loat, 6e with me, darling, early and late, 1mash 2 glasses 2 will study wry music or your sake, 5or should your hands drop white and empty All the toys o the world would break, John Frederick Nims

Before Reading.

Think of someone you have fancied / loved. Around the spider diagram below, brain storm a list of things (aspects of personality / looks) that you really liked about your mystery person! Try and make these unconventional, e.g. things that others would not necessarily find attractive about them.

Aspects I liked about my 'Mystery Person ...'

Love Poem Study Notes

Background Information Traditional love poetry renders the beloved as an ideal of perfection, placing the beloved on a pedestal (e.g. traditional sonnets). ove poems are normally full of romantic notions that e!alt and idealise the poet"s beloved # but not this one. This poem however, is unconventional in that it contradicts this tradition by describing a love that transcends (overcomes) human faults. $ims takes a very realistic view of her and describes her clumsiness in great detail. $ims celebrates both the positive and negative aspects of his partner and e!plores the idea that true love is not built upon the belief that she is the perfect woman. This is the most romantic poem ever imagined! %ere is a Truely oved &oman. %e does not 'ust love her (eyes of deepest blue) or (alabaster breasts), he loves %*+! %e doesn"t care that she is lacking in the social graces, clumsy, or that she"s such a bad driver. Those things endear her to him. %e loves her for her caring nature to others, her empathetic, loving, gentle soul.

The poem is written to, and about, a woman who possesses this kind of love, and the speaker is a man thinking about the adoration that he feels for his beloved.

he itle Traditional love poem title. The poem however, contradicts what we e!pect from the title. heme ,. ove transcends human faults. the poet initially highlights her clumsy nature however, he contrasts this with more positive character traits she possesses and concludes by stating that without her there would be no 'oy left for him in the world.

-. A celebration of the poet"s love.

Narrative Stance Addresses the beloved directly (.y clumsiest dear.)

Stan!a " # he $%ening

&'(am i% sometimes you get )uestions a*out %oems +ith an effective o%ening, The poem begins with an unconventional address/ (.y clumsiest dear) possessive not very complimentary term of endearment

The poet then offers images (imagery 0 metaphor) of a clumsy and destructive woman/ (whose hands shipwreck vases) (suggests her hands are as destructive as storms are to ships) (whose palms are bulls in china) (suggests she is not only destructive but almost out of place. The poet continues to tease his lover about her physical ineptitude by using a second metaphor. %e compares her hand to bulls in china. $ormally the saying is bulls in a china shop but $ims ups the ante and changes this to bulls in 1hina itself. Again, he is attempting to convey the power of his beloved by giving her global significance. 2burs in linen.2 The reference to (burs in linen) 3s a reference to the snags and creases you sometimes find in sheets of linen. $ims is conveying his lover"s ineptitude in domestic matters.)

&ord choice of (clumsiest)4 (all) (no) and (any) further emphasise her clumsiness. ines - 5 6 are an e!ample of hyperbole, the woman2s hands are personified as if they move of their own volition. The continuance of this theme through the striking image of 7shipwreck vases7 suggests a force spun out of control, as if her hands were chaotically destructive, as storms are to ships. This image is again reinforced by the idea of wild bulls breaking glass in china shops. 3n the china shop, her hands are powerful but out of place. This is an unconventional opening that grabs the reader"s attention. 8traight away the reader notices that this is no typical love poem as the poet is critical of his beloved while remaining affectionate. -hy is it an effective o%ening. 3t is unconventional and the first stan9a almost seems to contradict the title of the poem and what we e!pect from love poetry 3t introduces the character of his beloved

Stan!a /
%ere the poet makes very effective use of contrast. The stan9a begins with en0am*ment. This smoothly slides into a change of direction of the poet"s thought. 1ontrast 8tan9a , focuses on her physical clumsiness, suggesting she is at odds with the world around her. 8tan9a - emphasises the :people skills" she possesses and her calming influence on others.

&hilst his beloved may lack physical graces, she more than makes up for this with her social graces/ she mends, rather than breaks, where people are concerned. (The refugee uncertain at the door / ;ou make at home) (deftly you steady / The drunk clambering on his undulant floor.)

3t is clear in this stan9a that her benevolent nature transcends time and place. This stan9a highlights the contrast between the woman2s ineptness to her e!ternal environment and her internal grace. 8he gives solace to others in need/ (refugee uncertain at the door.) This is a very effective way of conveying how good his love is at making uneasy people feel at home. A refugee is someone who has had to flee their own home because of danger. This is a great way of showing the kindness of his partner. providing stability to the wavering of the drunk2s 7undulant floor7 (line <). This act of kindness is done 7deftly7 (line =), with skill and grace that directly oppose her clumsiness with inanimate ob'ects.

Thus, we now are aware that this is a love poem, it is 'ust different from the norm.

-ord 1hoice

(>eftly) 5 provides a contrast with her clumsiness.

Stan!a 2
%ere, the poet once more focuses on his beloved"s awkwardness (and poor driving!) (the ta!i drivers" terror) (leaping before apoplectic streetcars) (note use of hyperbole and imagery) (.isfit in any space. And never on time.)

8triking contrasts of imagery continue to portray the speaker2s affection for his 7?npredictable dear7 (line @), whose 7traffic of wit7 can 7e!pertly manoeuvre7 (line ,A) itself, whilst her driving skills are presented through the hyperbole of 7red apoplectic streetcars7 (line ,,). %ere the personified images of vehicles behaving both angry and terrified in her presence blatantly 'u!tapose her composure and cleverness when it comes to dealing with human beings and their emotions. $ims returns to his original train of thought from stan9a one4 that his beloved is clumsy and describes her dodgy driving skills using e!cellent word choice. %e uses alliteration in taxi drivers terror to emphasi9e the chaos she causes on the road. The poet appears amused by her inconsistency when driving. This can be seen through the contrast he makes between her :shrinking" from traffic one minute and then :leaping"the ne!t. (Apoplectic) 5personification 5 the driver A$> tram are furious at her recklessness 5we can see the funny side of her contradictory character, but also share the fury of other drivers. The word choice of :apopletic" similarly contributes to the light0hearted tone as we can both empathise with and ridicule the enraged streetcar drivers. %e completes the stan9a with the idea that not only is she physically in the wrong place on occasion, she is freBuently there at the wrong time. %owever, the tone remains light0hearted and is almost teasing. &hilst he is pointing out her :flaws" as such, he is doing it an affectionate way. -ord 1hoice (.isfit) 5 suggests she is out of place (shrinking, leaping and apoplectic conveys vividly the scenario in a humorous manner. $ims is using hyperbole for comic effect.

Stan!a 3
This stan9a addresses both his beloved"s faults and skills. The first line of the stan9a is actually fairly am*iguous (can be read in different ways). (A wrench in clocks and the solar system.)

This metaphor suggests that her physical presence is almost 'arring and stops and breaks things. %owever, the reference to (the solar system) suggests that she also has the power to bring his world to a standstill, thus his life revolves around her. $ims use of hyperbole rises to astronomical levels. %e refers to his beloved as someone who can cause chaos in the fabric of the universe itself. The sheer e!aggeration of the statement creates a light0hearted and humorous effect and is a fitting clima! to the line of thought of the poet. The woman2s ineptness (link back to stan9a one) is further described as 7A wrench in clocks and the solar system7 (line ,C), making her clumsiness seem timeless and eternal.

Dnce more her social skills are emphasised/ (&ith words and people and love you move at ease) (3n traffic of wit, e!pertly manoeuvre) (note the direct contrast to stan9a C. Also, a metaphor.)

$ims uses contrast to convey the way in which his lover moves adeptly in social interactions. This is compared as to how inept she is at moving in the physical world. The metaphor of driving is continued in traffic of wit. This is very effective as it makes the comparison very clear in a light hearted and humorous style. %is beloved moves with skill in the world of relationships even if she is a walking disaster in the real world. Again, the speaker"s depth of emotion is made clear/ (And keep us all devotion at your knees) (not only does he worship her, the word (us) suggests she has many admirers)

1ontrast

8tan9a C gently mocks her lack of driving skills. 8tan9a 6 praises her social skills in contrast to this.

Stan!a 4
The poet reverts to teasing her clumsiness/ (your coffee spreading on our flannel) (;our lipstick grinning on our coat) (personification.)

Eollowing this, the poet employs a more conventional image of love poetry when he states/ (in love"s unbreakable heaven) (their love will be eternal)

%owever, he immediately subverts this traditional image with the humorous comment that/ -ord 1hoice Dur souls on glory of spilt bourbon float) (unbreakable heaven) (spilt bourbon) 5 here, the poet adds humour to a more conventional image found in traditional love poetry, (our souls#) emphasising that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her and her clumsy nature.

The poet crosses into the language of high romance in this stan9a. %e envisages their lives together using beautiful +ord choice. Unbreakable heaven conveys how the poet believes in the immortality of their relationship. The religious metaphor is continued with souls on glory of spilt bourbon float. This gives the reader a wonderful image linking his beloved"s clumsiness, spilt bourbon, to their happiness. The poet is clearly blissfully happy with his partner and loves her and her faults.

+einforcing the idea that the beloved is adored in spite of her faults, this stan9a points out that love has its own 7unbreakable heaven7 (line ,@). %ere such mundane concerns as 7coffee spreading7 and 7spilt bourbon7 (lines ,= and -F) are of no conseBuence. 3n fact, because the spills are associated with her, they become almost spiritual in nature, as the word 7heaven7 emphasi9es. 3n heaven, for all eternity, nothing breaks at her touch. As a result, her warm nature seems more admirable than any social graces would.

Stan!a 5 he 1onclusion
&'(am i% sometimes you get asked a*out a %oem +ith an effective end6conclusion, %ere, the poet makes a genuine and heartfelt declaration of love. (Ge with me darling, early and late 5 smash 0 glasses) (note use of imperative / command) (early and late) (metaphor for lifeH) %ere, $ims directly addresses his beloved urging her to stay with him throughout the day. $ims uses onomatopoeia again to evoke the woman"s clumsiness in (smash0glasses0.) %owever, this seems to be something that he holds dear to himself about her. Eor all he cares, she could smash every glass in the world.

The last two lines (the final cou%let) is particularly %oignant (touching)/ (Eor should your hands drop white and empty All the toys of the world would break.)

Thus, were she to die, there would be no 'oy left in the world. (toys of the world) I metaphor for 'oy/happiness ie. all those who know her would be as lost and broken0spirited as children whose toys are broken. The poem ends on a strange note for a love poem with a sobering image of death. $im uses a literary techniBue called metonymy to evoke an image of his beloved dying. A metonym is when part of a thing stands for the whole thing, in this case, his lover"s hands stand for her and the image of them dropping white represents her death poignantly. $ims also uses a metaphor to convey how dear his wife is to him. The image Toys of the world represent everything else in the world, which are but insignificant toys compared to his beloved. 3t is only she that he really cares about and if he loses her then nothing else matters at all. 3t is a beautiful end to a beautiful love poem. *ven though the beloved lacks skill with delicate inanimate ob'ects like glasses and vases, which 7chip and ring7 (line -) at her slightest touch, she has a tranBuil effect on people around her. 3n fact, she mends rather than breaks where people are concerned. 7Eidgeting people7 and 7The drunk clambering on his undulant floor7 (lines A and <) find solace and stability in her manner. As the speaker says, 7Eor should your hands drop white and empty/All the toys of the world would break7 (lines -C0-6). 3n other words, the same hands that are dangerous at the beginning of the poem ultimately act to disguise an e!traordinarily gentle soul beneath the clumsy surface. The phrase 7toys of the world7 is a metaphor for the fragility of people2s minds and hearts4 if the beloved were absent, all who know her and depend on her kind heart would surely be as lost and broken0spirited as children whose toys are broken.

$ote, the change in tone is evident here (the poem has been light0hearted/teasing and is now very serious indeed.) Throughout most of the poem the tone is generally light0hearted and sometimes even humorous. %owever, the last two lines of the poem convey a marked change in tone. %ere, the poet considers what would happen in the event of her death, were this to happen there would be no 'oy left for him in the world. Thus, he adopts a more serious tone. This change of tone emphasises the full e!tent of his love for her, and is in keeping with a traditional love sonnet where the final couplet is used to reveal the poet"s love.

-hy is the end effective. The change of tone emphasises the full e!tent of his love for her, and is in keeping with a traditional love sonnet where the final couplet is used to reveal the poet"s love. The poem concludes with a truly touching declaration of love and is more convincing than an over0e!aggerated typical love poem. John Erederick $ims2 7 ove Koem7 e!poses a woman for who she really is. $ims portrays her as reckless, destructive and downright inept. %e moves on in the poem describing her inner0soul, her intrinsic good will towards those in need. Through the 'u!taposition of these two types of images 00 the awkward and the adept 0 $ims2s beloved is reborn. Gy the final stan9a we too see her true beauty and grace. And, most importantly, we come to understand this poem for what it is...a true love poem. ove Koem7 emphasi9es the gentle, caring nature of a woman who on the surface seems destructive. Through images of the tenderness and care of her manner, plus the affection and adoration felt by all who know her, the poem suggests that nurturing human beings is more important than being careful about ob'ects. Einally, 7 ove Koem7 suggests that surface impressions can be deceiving and that apparent misfits may have an integral place in the order of life.

ESSAY PLAN FOR LOVE POEM by J.F.Nims.

as!" C#oose a $oem %#i&# is li'#t(#ea)te* o) $lay+,l o) not enti)ely se)io,s. S#o% #o% t#e $oet ma!es yo, a%a)e o+ t#is tone an* *is&,ss #o% e++e&tive t#is tone is in *ealin' %it# t#e s,b-e&t matte) o+ t#e $oem. .n yo,) ans%e) yo, m,st *eal %it# at least /O o+ " tone0 ima'e)y0 t#eme0 so,n* o) any ot#e) a$$)o$)iate +eat,)e. Introduction: T. A. R. T
Title: Author: Response to question: Techniques: Love poem John Frederick Nims Light-hearted tone is used Contrast and imagery

Synopsis:

B. O.

!Love "oem# does not $ollo% the traditional attitude to the loved one $ound in most love poetry& as the persona cele'rates 'oth the positive and negative aspects o$ his 'eloved(s character This emphasises the $act that true love is not 'ased upon the idea o$ the 'eloved 'eing a per$ect %oman )n the main& the poet uses a light-hearted tone to sho% us 'oth sides o$ his 'eloved(s character& yet in the $inal t%o lines o$ the poem a much more serious tone is introduced to reveal the true e*tent o$ his love

Main Body: P. C. Q. E
PARAGRAPH ONE: Point: Conte t: Quotation: Nims 'egins the poem 'y emphasising the inherent clumsiness o$ his 'eloved through e$$ective imagery +escri'e in your o%n %ords her actions in the $irst stan,a There is very e$$ective imagery used here - think a'out the !hands ship%reck vases# and !palms 'ulls in china #

Ana!ysis:

This requires you to analyse the e$$ectiveness o$ these t%o pieces o$ imagery For e*ample& you may suggest that the striking image o$ !ship%reck vases#suggests a $orce spun out o$ control& as i$ her hands %ere chaotically disruptive& as storms %ould 'e to ships This image is rein$orced 'y the almost stereotyped image o$ 'ulls rampaging in china shops - completely out o$ place& yet emphasising the idea o$ ho% po%er$ul and clumsy - very un$eminine - her hands are )n these descriptions the poet is descri'ing her as 'eing at odds %ith t"in#s in the physical %orld around her and succeeds in creating a re$reshingly honest description o$ his 'eloved ./ou may also in this verse %ant to re$er to the e$$ective %ord choice o$ !clumsiest#0 !all# !no# and !any# to $urther emphasise her clumsiness 1

PARAGRAPH T$O: Point: Conversely& he contrasts this aspect o$ her personality %ith her more $avoura'le character traits in stan,a t%o )n the second stan,a the persona contrasts this clumsiness %ith o'2ects to her skills in dealing %ith peop!e. 3ummarise actions o$ lover in verse 4 !a!! ill -at-ease $idgeting people:# !Re$ugee uncertain at the door# !drunk clim'ing on his undulant $loor# Tone more tender - praises her social skills -natural grace %ith people& especially !outsiders# )t is those %ho are almost outsiders in our society& $or e*ample& !the re$ugee#& %ho she 'rings com$ort to and to %hom she provides a %elcome $or& emphasising that she mends rather than 'reaks people 5*plain %ith re$erence to the quotation Remem'er to e*plain idea o$ !undulant# $loor

Conte t: Quotation:

Ana!ysis:

PARAGRAPH THREE: Point Conte t: Quotation: Nims( use o$ contrast is again evident in stan,as three and $our )n stan,a three he lightheartedly mocks her .lack o$1 driving skills: another stereotype6 3he one minute seems a$raid to venture into tra$$ic& the ne*t minute !leaping# in $ront o$ enraged street-car drivers !7 the ta*i drivers( terror& 3hrinking $rom $ar headlights pale as a dime /et leaping 'e$ore apoplectic streetcars#

Ana!ysis: The poet appears amused 'y her inconsistency %hen driving This can 'e seen through the contrast he makes 'et%een her 8shrinking( $rom tra$$ic one minute and then 8leaping(the ne*t !Apoplectic# -personi$ication - the driver AN+ tram are $urious at her recklessness -%e can see the $unny side o$ her contradictory character& 'ut also share the $ury o$ other drivers The %ord choice o$ 8apopletic( similarly contri'utes to the light-hearted tone as %e can 'oth empathise %ith and ridicule the enraged streetcar drivers 9e completes the stan,a %ith the idea that not only is she physically in the %rong p!ace on occasion& she is $requently there at the %rong ti%e. !:is$it in any space And never on time: A %rench in clocks and the solar system # .comment on !%rench# . t%o meanings1 and !solar system# .humorous e*aggeration 1

PARAGRAPH &O'R: Point. This leads nicely into the $ourth stan,a 'y placing the %ord !only# at the end o$ the line The use o$ en(a%)e%ent here leads seamlessly into the poet once again praising his 'eloved(s social skills This is a repetition o$ the ideas o$ stan,a t%o - her people skills !;ith %ords and people you move at ease0 )n tra$$ic o$ %it e*pertly manoeuvre# Continuing %ith the driving metaphor %e can once more see a marked change in tone Comment on repetition o$ !and#0 !move at ease#. contrast again %ith stan,a one10 !tra$$ic o$ %it# .pun1 0 !e*pertly# .contrast 1 85ase( and 8e*pertly( 'oth highlight the poet(s admiration o$ his 'eloved(s people skills creating a tone o$ admiration and approval 0!and keep us& all devotion& at your knees# The poet(s admiration and approval is apparent - e*plain The use o$ contrast serves us to remind us that she is a human 'eing& %ith all her $aults Nims( use o$ contrast helps to create a more convincing and 'elieva'le declaration o$ love& one %hich praises all aspects o$ his 'eloved(s character& even her $aults

Conte t. Quotation: Ana!ysis:

PARAGRAPH &I*E: Point Conte t: The light-hearted tone is once again illustrated to%ards the end o$ the poem as the poet envisages their $uture li$e together )n spite o$ her clumsiness in ruining his clothes . co$$ee and lipstick1 in contrast& their lives together %ill 'e !un'reaka'le#

Quotation: Ana!ysis:

!3o gaily in love(s un'reaka'le heaven <ur souls on glory o$ spilt 'our'on $loat# 9ere& the poet utilises more stereotypical love imagery 'y re$erring to 8heaven( and their 8souls( $loating together 9o%ever& he adds humour to these descriptions 'y re$erring to 8spilt 'our'on(& once again dra%ing attention to her physical clumsiness Thus& once more& he has succeeded in creating a light-hearted tone %hilst simultaneously rein$orcing the love he has $or her

PARAGRAPH SI+: Point Conte t: Quotation: Ana!ysis: )n the last t%o lines the tone changes entirely as the poet reveals his true depth o$ $eeling $or his 'eloved0 he makes a serious declaration o$ his love No matter ho% clumsy she is - !smash glasses#- he reveals that i$ she %ere to die and leave him& li$e %ould no longer 'e %orth living !For should your hands drop %hite and empty All the toys o$ the %orld %ould 'reak # )n contrast to her hands destroying o'2ects - !ship%recking vases# - in death her hands %ould 'e rendered useless - !%hite and empty# 9ere& the poet implies that i$ she %ere to die& 8%hite and empty(& there %ould 'e no 2oy le$t in the %orld $or him The re$erence to !toys# - pleasura'le things - !%ould 'reak#& presuma'ly o$ their o%n accord& no% that the 'eloved %as no longer in the %orld The use o$ the 8toys( metaphor helps to convey the utter tragedy o$ such an event The change o$ tone $rom light-hearted to serious& is particularly e$$ective as %hilst %e can laugh at his more light,hearted descriptions o$ her character& here %e truly see the depth o$ emotion he has $or her :oreover& it %ould appear the poet has $inally con$ormed to the e*pectations o$ the genre - 'y declaring his love in the last t%o lines he is adopting the same $orm as the more traditional sonnet& reiterating to the reader that he truly adores her

Conc!usion.

T. A R. T - PERSONA. RESPONSE

)n conclusion& Nims has succeeded in using a light-hearted tone to create an initially unconventional& yet ultimately inspiring& love poem "oetry has 'een used $or centuries as a means o$ e*pressing love and Nims( unusual style has succeeded in creating a realistic and 'elieva'le piece o$ poetry

Essay 1,estions +o) 2)o,$ Plannin'

Choose a poem in which an incident or a character or an experience is vividly described. Briefly state what the poem is about and !o on to show how the techni"ues used make the description vivid. In your answer you must refer to the text and to at least two of# word$choice ima!ery mood structure characterisation or any other appropriate feature.

Choose a poem which makes you think more deeply about some aspect of life. %tate what aspect of life the poem deals with and show how the techni"ues used by the poet have deepened your understandin!. In your answer you must refer to the text and to at least two of# theme ideas word$choice ima!ery or any other appropriate feature.

Choose a poem which creates an atmosphere of fear or mystery or celebration or sadness. %how how the poet builds up this atmosphere and show how it hei!htens your appreciation of the poem. In your answer you must refer to the text and to at least two of# ima!ery sound effects word$choice tone or any other appropriate feature.

Choose a poem which deals with a real or ima!inary person or place. %how how the person or place is introduced and how the techni"ues used !ive a convincin! portrayal of that person or place. In your answer you must refer to the text and to at least two of# characterisation ima!ery word choice tone or any other appropriate feature.

Choose a poem which takes an optimistic view of life. Briefly state what the poem is about and !o on to show how the techni"ues used convey these optimistic feelin!s. In your answer you must refer to the text and to at least two of# theme ima!ery word choice structure or any other appropriate feature.

Choose a poem which increased your understandin! of life in the modern world. %tate what aspect of life in the modern world the poem illustrates and !o on to show how the poem both by its content and by its style increased your understandin!. In your answer you must refer to the text and to at least two of# ideas theme ima!ery word choice or any other appropriate feature.