Reading Buffalo Bills defunct was actually really
hard for me and I wasn’t even sure if that was the title or if it didn’t have a
title but I did not like the poem at all. I thought the format actually hurt
the poem I think a person would have to really be into poetry to understand it
because I had a problem just following the poem especially around the fourth
lines he starts putting a lot of his words together as if it was one word and
it definitely influenced the poem for me and I felt it made the poem harder to
understand. I think the poem uses some visual aspects but not a lot and I wasn’t
sure if the poem was talking about something else are actually talking about
the life and death of buffalo bill, it was kind of dubbing is as more of a hero
that he can break a lot of pigeons necks and he was saying he rode a stallion,
for me that was the visual in the aspect maybe Cummings sort of idolized him.
That’s my opinion but I really didn’t like the poem. As far as the poem Easter wings it was a really good poem and I really liked the way the stanza gave a visual aspect to the poem and it actually reminded me of wings of like an angel and I think the visual aspect in this case really helped the poem out. The I really like this poem because I thought it was uplifting and that's why the stanza Is shaped like wings I think the poem talks about how in life there are going to be times we are up and in a second we can loose everything and that's what the poem reminds me of like in the first stanza the speaker talks about having everything and loosing it all the same and he speaks about being most poor and I think when he says then shall the fall further the flight in me I think he was referencing the fact that when we "fall" or bad stuff happens we should get up and keep fighting and when he mentions flying I think he speaking bout overcoming obstacles but also maybe about god as well, anything that happens in are life we can always have hope and maybe that to is the idea about the wings in the stanza because like angels and or the idea of flying, overcoming obstacles. And I think the 2nd stanza only provides better details it sounds like he is talking about being sick an aging and growing thin and even with all these combinations and all the affliction he can still overcome and it only makes us stronger, when he repeats shall advance the flight in me.thats what I got from that and I really loved it and I can see how visual aspects can influence a poem.
Hey Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI had kind of a hard time with this poem by E.E. Cummings as well but that made me curious, so I did a little research (just googled Buffalo Bills name) as you do not hear his name mentioned too often anymore. According to the article “Biography: William "Buffalo Bill" Cody” on pbs.org, he was considered “The real deal” (1). He did all of the things that defined one as an American living the dream of the rugged western frontier. He fought bands of Indians and was responsible for “killing more than 4,000 [buffalo] in eight months” whereby earning him the name Buffalo Bill, cannot say I like that aspect. He became most famous for an 1883 traveling 3-hour show titled “Wild West” which he promoted as "A Visit West in Three Hours” (1). The poem seems like a tribute from an admirer. When Cummings says “who used to ride a watersmooth-silver stallion” (1.3-5) he is using a very vivid description of Buffalo Bill riding his majestic stallion into the arena, perhaps by a young woman for “Jesus he was a handsome man” (1.7-8). The opening line also eludes that perhaps it is a woman admirer as they proclaim that “Buffalo Bill's Defunct” (1.1-2). The word Defunct is simply a nicer way of stating that he is dead. In the final lines, what she seems to be asking with quite a bit of defiance and conviction is “How do you like your blueeyed boy / Mister Death” (1.10-11). She seems very upset that Mister Death has taken her blueeyed boy far, far away. In the poem “Easter Wings”, I could not agree more with your description of the text and how it resembles the wings of an Angel. I also saw how in the arrangement of the words in the first stanza he starts out in a positive light at the end the lines are two words “Most poore” depressing, and the spirits lift and at the end of the second stanza. I agree that it seems to indicate the flexibility of life. Once again, great blog, enjoyed reading it.
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI also struggled with E.E. Cummings poem. I also found it be very confusing. I usually struggle with poetry, and this poem made me very frustrated. On the other hand, I also found the poem Easter wings to be very uplifting. I also enjoyed the formation of wings made by the text. I agree with your interpretation, that through hope we can overcome all obstacles. I also feel that the formation of the wings is a hint to the content of the poem. The visual aspects contributed to the overall effect of the poem. I enjoyed reading your blog, great post.