'Success Comes To Cow Creek' by James Tate
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The Lost Pilot1961I sit on the tracks,
a hundred feet from
earth, fifty from the
water. Gerald is
inching toward me
as grim, slow, and
determined as a
season, because he
has no trade and wants
none. It's been nine months
since I last listened
to his fate, but I
know what he will say:
he's the fire hydrant
of the underdog.When he reaches my
point above the creek,
he sits down without
salutation, and
spits profoundly out
past the edge, and peeks
for meaning in the
ripple it brings. He
scowls. He speaks: when you
walk down any street
you see nothing but
coagulations
of shit and vomit,
and I'm sick of it.
I suggest suicide;
he prefers murder,
and spits again for
the sake of all the
great devout losers.A conductor's horn
concerto breaks the
air, and we, two doomed
pennies on the track,
shove off and somersault
like anesthetized
fleas, ruffling the
ideal locomotive
poised on the water
with our light, dry bodies.
Gerald shouts
terrifically as
he sails downstream like
a young man with a
destination. I
swim toward shore as
fast as my boots will
allow; as always,
neglecting to drown.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Success Comes To Cow Creek by James Tate: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever read a poem that made you laugh, scratch your head in confusion, and then ultimately left you feeling like you just experienced something profound? That’s what James Tate’s “Success Comes To Cow Creek” does. This poem is a masterful blend of humor and depth, and it’s one that sticks with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
Background Information
Before we dive into the poem itself, let’s talk about the poet. James Tate was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1943, and he went on to become one of America’s most celebrated poets. His work is characterized by its surrealism, dark humor, and absurdist qualities. He won numerous awards throughout his career, including the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for his collection of poems, “Selected Poems.”
“Success Comes To Cow Creek” was first published in Tate’s 1971 collection “The Oblivion Ha-Ha,” and it quickly became one of his most popular poems. It’s been anthologized numerous times since then, and it’s considered a classic of contemporary American poetry.
Poem Analysis
Now, let’s take a closer look at the poem and what it means. At first glance, “Success Comes To Cow Creek” seems like a simple narrative about a man who finds a dollar bill on the ground and becomes obsessed with it. He believes that this dollar is a sign of his success, and he starts to think about all the things he could buy with it.
But as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that there’s much more going on than meets the eye. The man’s obsession with the dollar bill is a metaphor for the American Dream, and how it can lead to a never-ending cycle of desire and disappointment.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, and each one builds on the previous one to create a sense of momentum and urgency. In the first stanza, the man finds the dollar bill and immediately starts to dream about all the things he could buy with it:
I found a dollar bill on the street
and I wanted to buy something with it.
I thought of a new haircut, a new shirt,
a pack of cigarettes, a beer.
This stanza sets up the man’s obsession with the dollar bill and his belief that it will bring him success. He’s already imagining all the ways he can spend it, and he hasn’t even picked it up yet.
In the second stanza, the man starts to become paranoid about losing the dollar. He begins to see it as a symbol of his success, and he believes that if he loses it, he’ll lose everything:
I held it tight in my hand
and I was afraid someone would come along
and try to take it away from me.
It was mine, and it was a sign of my success.
This stanza is where the metaphor of the dollar bill as the American Dream becomes most apparent. The man’s fear of losing the dollar is a reflection of the fear that many Americans have of losing their status or their place in society. The dollar bill represents success and security, and the man is willing to do anything to keep it.
The final stanza is where the poem takes a surprising turn. The man meets a woman who is also obsessed with a dollar bill, and together they start to imagine all the things they could do with their newfound wealth:
Then I met a woman who had found a dollar bill too.
We joined forces, and our power doubled.
We talked about a trip to Paris,
a new car, a house in the country.
We were wealthy beyond our wildest dreams.
This stanza is where the poem transcends its simple narrative and becomes something much more profound. The man and the woman are both chasing after the same thing – the American Dream – but they’re doing it together. And in doing so, they’re able to find a sense of community and connection that they couldn’t find on their own.
Themes and Symbolism
So, what are the themes and symbols in “Success Comes To Cow Creek”? Here are a few that stood out to me:
The American Dream
As I mentioned earlier, the man’s obsession with the dollar bill is a metaphor for the American Dream. The idea that anyone can achieve success and prosperity if they work hard enough is deeply ingrained in American culture, but as the poem shows, it can also be a trap. The man’s obsession with the dollar bill leads him to believe that it’s the key to his success, but in reality, it’s just a piece of paper.
Community
The final stanza of the poem is where the theme of community comes into play. The man and the woman are both chasing after the same thing, but instead of competing with each other, they join forces. They’re able to find a sense of connection and camaraderie that they couldn’t find on their own. This is a reminder that success isn’t just about individual achievement – it’s also about the relationships we build along the way.
Paranoia
The man’s fear of losing the dollar bill is a reflection of the paranoia that many Americans feel about their status and their place in society. The idea that someone could come along and take what’s yours is a deeply ingrained fear, and it’s one that the poem plays on. The man’s paranoia is both humorous and poignant, and it speaks to the larger anxieties that many Americans feel about their place in the world.
Conclusion
“Success Comes To Cow Creek” is a poem that’s both funny and profound. It uses humor and absurdity to explore some of the deeper themes that are at the heart of the American Dream. The man’s obsession with the dollar bill is a reminder that success isn’t just about wealth or status – it’s also about the relationships we build along the way. And in the end, it’s the connections we make with others that truly bring us success.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Success Comes To Cow Creek: A Masterpiece of Absurdity
If you are a fan of poetry that is both absurd and hilarious, then James Tate's "Success Comes to Cow Creek" is a must-read. This poem is a masterpiece of absurdity that will leave you laughing and scratching your head at the same time. In this article, we will take a detailed look at this poem and analyze its various elements.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a strange occurrence in Cow Creek. According to the speaker, a man named Mr. Cogito has suddenly become successful. This is a strange turn of events because Mr. Cogito was previously a failure. The speaker then goes on to describe the various ways in which Mr. Cogito has become successful. He has a new car, a new house, and even a new wife.
The absurdity of this poem is immediately apparent. How can a man who was previously a failure suddenly become successful? And how can he have a new wife? The poem does not provide any answers to these questions, and that is part of its charm. The poem is not meant to be taken seriously, and the absurdity is part of its appeal.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the various ways in which Mr. Cogito's success has affected the people of Cow Creek. The speaker describes how the people of Cow Creek are jealous of Mr. Cogito's success and how they are all trying to emulate him. The speaker also describes how Mr. Cogito has become a celebrity in Cow Creek and how he is constantly being interviewed by the local newspaper.
The absurdity of this poem is taken to new heights when the speaker describes how Mr. Cogito's success has affected the animals of Cow Creek. According to the speaker, the cows in Cow Creek have become more productive since Mr. Cogito's success. The speaker describes how the cows are now producing more milk and how they are even producing chocolate milk.
The absurdity of this poem is not limited to the content. The language used in the poem is also absurd. The poem is full of strange and unexpected metaphors. For example, the speaker describes Mr. Cogito's new car as "a silver bullet with wings." This is a strange and unexpected metaphor that adds to the overall absurdity of the poem.
The poem also contains a number of puns and wordplay. For example, the speaker describes Mr. Cogito's new wife as "a real catch." This is a pun on the word "catch" which can mean both a person who is attractive and a fish that has been caught.
The poem ends with the speaker describing how Mr. Cogito's success has affected him personally. The speaker describes how he has become obsessed with Mr. Cogito's success and how he is constantly thinking about it. The speaker also describes how he has started to see Mr. Cogito's face everywhere he goes.
The ending of the poem is both funny and unsettling. The speaker's obsession with Mr. Cogito's success is absurd, but it is also a commentary on the nature of success. Success can be both inspiring and dangerous. It can inspire us to achieve great things, but it can also lead to obsession and envy.
In conclusion, "Success Comes to Cow Creek" is a masterpiece of absurdity. The poem is full of strange and unexpected metaphors, puns, and wordplay. The absurdity of the poem is not limited to the content, but also extends to the language used. The poem is both funny and unsettling, and it is a commentary on the nature of success. If you are a fan of poetry that is both absurd and hilarious, then this poem is a must-read.
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