'To Various Persons Talked To All At Once' by Kenneth Koch
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You have helped hold me together.
I'd like you to be still.
Stop talking or doing anything else for a minute.
No. Please. For three minutes, maybe five minutes.
Tell me which walk to take over the hill.
Is there a bridge there? Will I want company?
Tell me about the old people who built the bridge.
What is "the Japanese economy"?
Where did you hide the doctor's bills?
How much I admire you!
Can you help me to take this off?
May I help you to take that off?
Are you finished with this item?
Who is the car salesman?
The canopy we had made for the dog.
I need some endless embracing.
The ocean's not really very far.
Did you come west in this weather?
I've been sitting at home with my shoes off.
You're wearing a cross!
That bench, look! Under it are some puppies!
Could I have just one little shot of Scotch?
I suppose I wanted to impress you.
It's snowing.
The Revlon Man has come from across the sea.
This racket is annoying.
We didn't want the baby to come here because of the hawk.
What are you reading?
In what style would you like the humidity to explain?
I care, but not much. You can smoke a cigar.
Genuineness isn't a word I'd ever use.
Say, what a short skirt! Do you have a camera?
The moon is a shellfish.
I can't talk to most people. They eat me alive.
Who are you, anyway?
I want to look at you all day long, because you are mine.
Might you crave a little visit to the Pizza Hut?
Thank you for telling me your sign.
I'm filled with joy by this sun!
The turtle is advancing but the lobster stays behind. Silence has won the game!
Well, just damn you and the thermometer!
I don't want to ask the doctor.
I didn't know what you meant when you said that to me.
It's getting cold, but I am feeling awfully lazy.
If you want to we can go over there
Where there's a little more light.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"To Various Persons Talked To All At Once" by Kenneth Koch: A Poem of Playfulness and Connection
When I first read "To Various Persons Talked To All At Once" by Kenneth Koch, it struck me as a poem full of playful energy and a sense of connection with others. In this essay, I will explore how Koch achieves this effect through his use of language, structure, and themes.
Language: The Joy of Chattering
One of the most noticeable features of the poem is its abundance of exclamation marks, which seem to express the speaker's delight at the act of talking to so many people at once. The poem begins:
You, Andrew Marvell, tell me!
And also, Sylvia Plath,
And must we not have someone here
Absolutely to the point?
Here, the speaker addresses two famous poets, inviting them to join in the conversation, and then adds a playful challenge to find someone who can stay focused on the topic at hand. The use of the exclamation mark after "Absolutely to the point?" adds a sense of urgency and excitement to this challenge.
The speaker then proceeds to address a variety of people, including "Miss Furr and Miss Skeene," two fictional characters from Gertrude Stein's writing, and "Mrs. O'Leary's cow," a reference to the animal supposedly responsible for the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. By including such diverse characters, the speaker creates a sense of inclusivity and playfulness that invites the reader to join in the conversation.
The language of the poem is also marked by repetition and variation. For example, the phrase "Tell me!" appears at the beginning of several stanzas, creating a sense of urgency and insistence. At the same time, the content of each request varies widely, from "Tell me, Osip Mandelstam, what were your last words?" to "Tell me, television, with your blond and shining hair." This variation keeps the reader engaged and curious about what the speaker will ask for next.
Structure: The Patter of Conversation
The poem is structured as a series of short stanzas, each addressing a different person or entity. This structure reflects the patter of conversation, with its constant shifts of focus and attention. The stanzas also vary in length, from two lines to eight lines, creating a sense of rhythm and unpredictability.
The poem's title, "To Various Persons Talked To All At Once," suggests that the speaker is addressing a group of people who are all present at the same time. This creates a sense of community and shared experience, as though the poem is a record of a conversation that has taken place.
At the same time, the poem's structure also reflects the speaker's desire to connect with people who are not necessarily present. By addressing both living and dead poets, as well as fictional characters and animals, the speaker creates a sense of connection across time and space.
Themes: The Joy of Connection
At its core, "To Various Persons Talked To All At Once" is a poem about the joy of connection. The speaker's desire to talk to so many different people and entities reflects a deep hunger for connection and conversation. By including such a wide range of characters, the poem suggests that this desire is universal and that we all crave connection with others.
At the same time, the poem also acknowledges the challenges of communication. The speaker's playful challenge to find someone who can stay "absolutely to the point" suggests that staying focused in conversation can be difficult. By including characters who are known for their eccentricity, such as Gertrude Stein and Andy Warhol, the poem also acknowledges the challenges of connecting with people who are very different from ourselves.
Ultimately, however, the poem affirms the value of conversation and connection. The final stanza reads:
And I am I, who will arrive
To talk with you, but I forget the date,
And I, even I, hesitate, and
You look at me in anger,
Perhaps rightly: let us, then, pretend
No longer that we do not know each other,
And I will tell stories, and you will
Sing in a voice so beautiful I cannot
Imagine ever having imagined it.
Here, the speaker acknowledges the difficulties of connecting with others, but also affirms the possibility of genuine communication and beauty in that connection.
Conclusion: A Poem of Playfulness and Connection
"To Various Persons Talked To All At Once" is a poem full of playful energy and a sense of connection with others. Through its use of language, structure, and themes, the poem invites the reader to join in the conversation and affirms the value of communication and connection. As I read the poem, I felt a sense of delight and joy at the sheer exuberance of the speaker's desire to talk to so many different people. And ultimately, I felt a sense of hope that even in our fractured and divided world, we can still find ways to connect with one another and share our stories.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To Various Persons Talked To All At Once: A Masterpiece of Poetic Chaos
Kenneth Koch's To Various Persons Talked To All At Once is a poem that defies convention and challenges the reader's expectations. It is a work of art that is both chaotic and structured, playful and serious, and above all, deeply human. In this analysis, we will explore the various elements that make this poem a masterpiece of poetic chaos.
First and foremost, it is important to note that To Various Persons Talked To All At Once is a poem that is meant to be read out loud. It is a performance piece that is meant to be heard, not just read. The poem is written in a conversational style, with the speaker addressing various people in a casual, offhand manner. The effect is that the reader feels as though they are eavesdropping on a conversation, rather than reading a poem.
The poem is structured in a way that is both chaotic and deliberate. It is divided into sections, each of which is addressed to a different person. However, the sections are not numbered or titled, and there is no clear indication of where one section ends and another begins. This creates a sense of disorientation for the reader, as they are never quite sure where they are in the poem. However, this disorientation is intentional, as it mirrors the chaotic nature of the speaker's thoughts.
The language of the poem is also chaotic and playful. Koch uses a variety of literary devices, including puns, allusions, and wordplay, to create a sense of whimsy and playfulness. For example, in one section of the poem, the speaker addresses a woman named Alice, saying "Alice, you're a wonderland." This is a clever play on words, as it references Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, while also complimenting the woman.
Another example of Koch's playful language can be found in the section where the speaker addresses a man named George. The speaker says, "George, you're a peach. / You're a peach, George." This repetition of the phrase "you're a peach" is both humorous and endearing, as it emphasizes the speaker's affection for George.
Despite the playful language and chaotic structure, To Various Persons Talked To All At Once is also a deeply human poem. The speaker addresses a variety of people, including friends, family members, and strangers. Through these various addresses, the poem explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition.
One of the most poignant sections of the poem is when the speaker addresses a woman named Mary. The speaker says, "Mary, I love you. / I love you, Mary." This repetition of the phrase "I love you" emphasizes the depth of the speaker's feelings for Mary. However, the section ends on a melancholy note, as the speaker says, "Mary, you're gone. / You're gone, Mary." This sudden shift in tone is heartbreaking, as it reminds the reader of the impermanence of life and the pain of loss.
Another example of the poem's exploration of the human condition can be found in the section where the speaker addresses a stranger. The speaker says, "Stranger, I don't know you. / I don't know you, stranger." This repetition of the phrase "I don't know you" emphasizes the distance between the speaker and the stranger. However, the section ends on a hopeful note, as the speaker says, "But I wish you well. / I wish you well, stranger." This simple expression of goodwill highlights the speaker's empathy and compassion for others, even those they do not know.
In conclusion, To Various Persons Talked To All At Once is a masterpiece of poetic chaos. It defies convention and challenges the reader's expectations, while also exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Through its playful language and chaotic structure, the poem captures the messiness and beauty of life. It is a work of art that is both deeply human and endlessly fascinating.
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