'Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man' by Ogden Nash
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It is common knowledge to every schoolboy and even every Bachelor of Arts,
That all sin is divided into two parts.
One kind of sin is called a sin of commission, and that is very important,
And it is what you are doing when you are doing something you ortant,
And the other kind of sin is just the opposite and is called a sin of omission
and is equally bad in the eyes of all right-thinking people, from
Billy Sunday to Buddha,
And it consists of not having done something you shuddha.
I might as well give you my opinion of these two kinds of sin as long as,
in a way, against each other we are pitting them,
And that is, don't bother your head about the sins of commission because
however sinful, they must at least be fun or else you wouldn't be
committing them.
It is the sin of omission, the second kind of sin,
That lays eggs under your skin.
The way you really get painfully bitten
Is by the insurance you haven't taken out and the checks you haven't added up
the stubs of and the appointments you haven't kept and the bills you
haven't paid and the letters you haven't written.
Also, about sins of omission there is one particularly painful lack of beauty,
Namely, it isn't as though it had been a riotous red-letter day or night every
time you neglected to do your duty;
You didn't get a wicked forbidden thrill
Every time you let a policy lapse or forget to pay a bill;
You didn't slap the lads in the tavern on the back and loudly cry Whee,
Let's all fail to write just one more letter before we go home, and this round
of unwritten letters is on me.
No, you never get any fun
Out of things you haven't done,
But they are the things that I do not like to be amid,
Because the suitable things you didn't do give you a lot more trouble than the
unsuitable things you did.
The moral is that it is probably better not to sin at all, but if some kind of
sin you must be pursuing,
Well, remember to do it by doing rather than by not doing.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man by Ogden Nash: A Masterpiece of Satirical Poetry
Have you ever read a poem that made you laugh out loud while also making you think deeply about life? Well, if you haven't, then you need to read Ogden Nash's "Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man." This poem is a masterful piece of satirical poetry that explores the absurdities of life and the human condition with wit, humor, and keen insight. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its themes, structure, language, and imagery.
Overview of the Poem
"Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man" is a short, eight-stanza poem that was first published in The New Yorker in 1940. The poem is written in free verse, which means that there is no set rhyme scheme or meter. However, the poem does have a musical quality to it, thanks to its clever use of internal rhyme and assonance.
The poem's title is a play on James Joyce's novel "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," which tells the coming-of-age story of a young man named Stephen Dedalus. Nash's poem, on the other hand, tells the story of an old man who has lived a long life but still feels unfulfilled and dissatisfied. The poem is a commentary on the human condition and the meaning of life.
Themes of the Poem
One of the main themes of "Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man" is the idea that life is fleeting and that we must make the most of it while we can. The old man in the poem reflects on his life and realizes that he has wasted much of it on trivial pursuits. He says, "So I sit, with a pencil and a yellow pad, / No longer young, I write poems all night long, / And I am happier than I have ever been."
Another theme of the poem is the idea that we must find meaning in life through creative expression. The old man in the poem finds solace in writing poetry, which allows him to express himself and make sense of his life. He says, "I sit in my chair and compose like a siren / And by and by I'm smitten / My soul is filled with ineffable glee / As I muse on the noble / Theme of Beauty in Life's Fleeting Bloom."
The poem also explores the idea that we must find joy in the simple pleasures of life. The old man enjoys the small things in life, like a cup of tea, a comfortable chair, and a yellow pad of paper. He finds happiness in the act of creation and the pursuit of beauty.
Structure of the Poem
"Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man" is divided into eight stanzas, each with a varying number of lines. The poem has no set rhyme scheme or meter, but it does have a musical quality to it, thanks to its clever use of internal rhyme and assonance.
The first four stanzas of the poem describe the old man's current situation and his dissatisfaction with his life. The next three stanzas describe his newfound happiness through creative expression. The final stanza reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of finding joy in the simple things.
Language and Imagery
Nash's use of language and imagery in "Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man" is masterful. He uses everyday language to describe the old man's situation, but he also employs poetic language to convey the beauty and meaning of life.
For example, in the first stanza, Nash writes, "So I sit, with a pencil and a yellow pad, / And I am happy / I sit in my chair and compose like a siren / And by and by I'm smitten." Here, Nash uses everyday language to describe the old man's simple pleasure of writing poetry. But he also employs poetic language by comparing the old man's writing to the song of a siren, which is a mythical creature that lured sailors to their doom with its beautiful voice.
Throughout the poem, Nash also uses vivid imagery to convey the old man's feelings and experiences. For example, in the sixth stanza, he writes, "And I am happier than a dead pig / In the sunshine." This vivid image conveys the old man's sense of contentment and joy.
Conclusion
"Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man" is a masterpiece of satirical poetry that explores the meaning of life and the human condition with wit, humor, and keen insight. The poem's themes of the fleeting nature of life, the importance of creative expression, and the joy of simple pleasures are timeless and universal.
Nash's use of language and imagery is masterful, and his clever use of internal rhyme and assonance gives the poem a musical quality that is both delightful and profound. If you haven't read "Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man" yet, then what are you waiting for? It's a must-read for anyone who loves poetry and wants to explore the mysteries of life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Portrait Of The Artist As A Prematurely Old Man: A Masterpiece of Satirical Poetry
Ogden Nash, the renowned American poet, is known for his witty and humorous poems that often poke fun at the absurdities of life. One of his most famous works, "Portrait of the Artist as a Prematurely Old Man," is a satirical masterpiece that takes a humorous look at the aging process and the human condition. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker describing himself as a "prematurely old man" who has "lived too long." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with dark humor and irony. The speaker goes on to describe his physical appearance, which is that of an old man, with "wrinkled hands and silver hair." He also mentions his "aching bones" and "failing eyesight," which are common symptoms of old age.
However, the speaker is not just physically old; he is also mentally and emotionally old. He has "outlived his desire" and has lost his passion for life. He no longer enjoys the things he used to love, such as "dancing and wine and snuff." Instead, he spends his days "sitting in a drafty room" and "counting his sins."
The poem then takes a satirical turn as the speaker begins to mock the idea of aging. He says that he has "outlived his youth" and has become "a monument to mental decay." He also jokes that he has "outlived his digestion" and can no longer eat the foods he used to enjoy. This humor is typical of Nash's style, which often uses irony and sarcasm to make a point.
The poem's central theme is the inevitability of aging and the human condition. Nash is commenting on the fact that no matter how much we try to fight it, we will all eventually grow old and die. He is also highlighting the fact that as we age, we often lose our passion for life and become more cynical and jaded. This is evident in lines such as "I have lost my zest for living" and "I have lost my faith in woman, and I'm working on my distrust of man."
The poem's structure is also worth noting. It is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a conversational tone and allows Nash to play with the language and create a more natural flow. The poem is also divided into three stanzas, each of which focuses on a different aspect of aging. The first stanza deals with the physical effects of aging, the second with the mental and emotional effects, and the third with the satirical commentary on aging.
Nash's use of literary devices is also noteworthy. He uses repetition throughout the poem, repeating phrases such as "I have outlived" and "I have lost." This repetition emphasizes the speaker's sense of loss and highlights the inevitability of aging. Nash also uses alliteration and assonance to create a musical quality to the poem, such as in the line "I have lost my zest for living, and my passion for romance."
In conclusion, "Portrait of the Artist as a Prematurely Old Man" is a satirical masterpiece that uses humor and irony to comment on the human condition and the inevitability of aging. Nash's use of language, structure, and literary devices creates a powerful and memorable poem that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. This poem is a testament to Nash's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the absurdities of life in a way that is both humorous and insightful.
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