'Winter Complaint' by Ogden Nash
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Now when I have a cold
I am careful with my cold,
I consult a physician
And I do as I am told.
I muffle up my torso
In woolly woolly garb,
And I quaff great flagons
Of sodium bicarb.
I munch on aspirin,
I lunch on water,
And I wouldn't dream of osculating
Anybody's daughter,
And to anybody's son
I wouldn't say howdy,
For I am a sufferer
Magna cum laude.
I don't like germs,
But I'll keep the germs I've got.
Will I take a chance of spreading them?
Definitely not.
I sneeze out the window
And I cough up the flue,
And I live like a hermit
Till the germs get through.
And because I'm considerate,
Because I'm wary,
I am treated by my friends
Like Typhoid Mary.
Now when you have a cold
You are careless with your cold,
You are cocky as a gangster
Who has just been paroled.
You ignore your physician,
You eat steaks and oxtails,
You stuff yourself with starches,
You drink lots of cocktails,
And you claim that gargling
Is a time of waste,
And you won't take soda
For you don't like the taste,
And you prowl around parties
Full of selfish bliss,
And greet your hostess
With a genial kiss.
You convert yourself
Into a deadly missle,
You exhale Hello's
Like a steamboat wistle.
You sneeze in the subway
And you cough at dances,
And let everybody else
Take their own good chances.
You're a bronchial boor,
A bacterial blighter,
And you get more invitations
Than a gossip writer.
Yes, your throat is froggy,
And your eyes are swimmy,
And you hand is clammy,
And you nose is brimmy,
But you woo my girls
And their hearts you jimmy
While I sit here
With the cold you gimmy.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Winter Complaint: A Masterpiece by Ogden Nash
Winter Complaint is a poem that captures the essence of the cold winter season in a humorous and imaginative manner. Written by Ogden Nash, a renowned American poet, the poem explores the challenges and frustrations of winter, while also highlighting its unique beauty and charm. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore its themes, language, tone, and style.
Background Information
Ogden Nash was an American poet who lived between 1902 and 1971. He was known for his clever wordplay, unconventional rhyming schemes, and humorous and witty poems. He wrote on diverse topics ranging from animals, love, politics, and everyday life. Nash was a prolific writer who published several collections of poetry, including "The Private Dining Room," "Many Long Years Ago," and "I'm a Stranger Here Myself."
Winter Complaint is one of Nash's most popular poems. It was first published in 1935 in "The New Yorker" magazine and later included in Nash's collection of poetry, "Good Intentions." The poem is a lighthearted take on the challenges of winter and the various ways people cope with the season.
Themes
The Winter Complaint explores various themes, including the difficulties of winter, the beauty of snow, the importance of warmth, and the need for companionship.
Difficulties of Winter
One of the main themes of the poem is the difficulties of winter. Nash highlights the various challenges people face during this season, such as the cold, the snow, and the discomfort. He also parodies the different coping mechanisms people use to deal with the season, such as complaining, wearing layers of clothes, and drinking hot cocoa.
Beauty of Snow
Despite the difficulties of winter, Nash also highlights the beauty of snow. He describes the snow as "romantic" and "picturesque" and compares it to a "poem," "a symphony," and "a canvas." Nash also admires the way snow transforms the environment and creates a sense of stillness and peace.
Importance of Warmth
Another theme of the poem is the importance of warmth. Nash emphasizes the need for warmth during the cold winter months, both physical warmth from clothing and heating and emotional warmth from companionship and love.
Need for Companionship
Finally, the poem emphasizes the need for companionship during the winter season. Nash highlights the way people come together during this time, sharing warmth, food, and laughter. He also emphasizes the importance of human connection and the way it helps people cope with the difficulties of winter.
Language and Tone
Nash's language and tone in the poem are lighthearted, humorous, and witty. He uses clever wordplay, puns, and unconventional rhyming schemes to create a playful and whimsical tone. Nash also uses a lot of alliteration and repetition to create a musical and rhythmic effect.
The language in the poem is also highly imaginative and creative. Nash uses metaphors and similes to describe the winter season in a unique and vivid way. For example, he compares the snow to a "confectioner's sugar" and a "cotton batting," and he describes the winter wind as a "banshee" and a "frightful thing."
Nash's use of language and tone creates a sense of whimsy and playfulness in the poem. The reader is invited to join in on Nash's playful take on the winter season and to see it in a new and imaginative way.
Style
Nash's style in Winter Complaint is marked by its use of unconventional rhyming schemes and playful language. The poem is written in rhyming couplets, with an ABAB rhyme scheme. However, Nash frequently breaks this pattern to create a more musical and rhythmic effect. He also uses internal rhymes, alliteration, and repetition to create a sense of flow and rhythm in the poem.
Nash's style is also marked by its use of humor and satire. He pokes fun at the various coping mechanisms people use during the winter season and highlights the absurdity of complaining about something that cannot be changed. Nash's humor is gentle and lighthearted, inviting the reader to see the humor in their own struggles with winter.
Interpretation
Winter Complaint is a poem that invites the reader to see the winter season in a new and imaginative way. While acknowledging the difficulties of winter, Nash also highlights its unique beauty and charm. The poem reminds us of the importance of warmth, both physical and emotional, and the need for companionship during the cold winter months.
The poem also invites us to see the humor and absurdity in our own struggles with winter. Nash's playful language and tone encourage us to laugh at our own complaints and to find joy in the various coping mechanisms we use to deal with the season.
Finally, the poem reminds us of the power of imagination and creativity to transform our experiences. Nash's use of vivid metaphors and similes invites us to see the winter season in a new and imaginative way, reminding us of the beauty and magic that can be found in even the coldest and darkest of seasons.
Conclusion
Winter Complaint is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of the winter season in a playful and imaginative way. Through its themes, language, tone, and style, the poem invites us to see the beauty and charm of winter, while also reminding us of its difficulties. The poem reminds us of the importance of warmth, companionship, and humor in dealing with the season and encourages us to see the power of imagination and creativity to transform our experiences.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Winter Complaint: A Poem that Captures the Essence of Winter
Winter is a season that brings with it a unique set of challenges and joys. It is a time when the world is covered in a blanket of snow, and the air is crisp and cold. It is a time when we gather around the fire, sip hot cocoa, and enjoy the company of loved ones. However, for some, winter can be a time of frustration and discomfort. In his poem, Winter Complaint, Ogden Nash captures the essence of winter and the mixed emotions it can evoke.
Winter Complaint is a short, humorous poem that uses playful language and clever wordplay to convey the speaker's frustration with the season. The poem begins with the speaker stating, "It's winter again, I am sad." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with complaints about the season. The speaker goes on to list the various reasons why winter is such a difficult time of year, including the cold weather, the snow, and the lack of sunlight.
One of the most striking aspects of Winter Complaint is the way in which Nash uses language to create a sense of playfulness and humor. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker complains about the snow, saying, "It's snowing again, it's snowing! / The snowflakes are large and white." The use of repetition and rhyme in these lines creates a sense of rhythm and playfulness that is both entertaining and engaging.
Another example of Nash's clever wordplay can be found in the third stanza, where the speaker complains about the lack of sunlight. The speaker says, "The sun has gone out of sight, / And it's dark as the dickens outside." The use of the phrase "dark as the dickens" is a clever play on words, as it can be interpreted in two ways. On the one hand, it can be read as a reference to the author Charles Dickens, whose novels often dealt with themes of darkness and despair. On the other hand, it can be read as a reference to the phrase "dark as the devil," which is a common expression used to describe a very dark or gloomy situation.
Despite the speaker's complaints about winter, there are moments in the poem where Nash captures the beauty and magic of the season. For example, in the fourth stanza, the speaker describes the snow-covered landscape, saying, "The trees are all white with snow, / And the fields are all covered in white." These lines create a vivid image of a winter wonderland, and they remind us that even though winter can be difficult, it can also be incredibly beautiful.
One of the most interesting aspects of Winter Complaint is the way in which it captures the mixed emotions that many people feel during the winter months. On the one hand, there is a sense of frustration and discomfort that comes with the cold weather, the snow, and the lack of sunlight. On the other hand, there is a sense of joy and wonder that comes with the beauty of the season, the warmth of the fire, and the company of loved ones. Nash's poem captures both of these emotions, and it reminds us that even though winter can be difficult, it can also be a time of great beauty and joy.
In conclusion, Winter Complaint is a classic poem that captures the essence of winter and the mixed emotions it can evoke. Through playful language and clever wordplay, Ogden Nash creates a sense of humor and whimsy that makes the poem both entertaining and engaging. At the same time, he also captures the beauty and magic of the season, reminding us that even though winter can be difficult, it can also be a time of great joy and wonder. Whether you love winter or hate it, Winter Complaint is a poem that is sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced the joys and challenges of this unique season.
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