'A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor' by Ogden Nash
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The hands of the clock were reaching high
In an old midtown hotel;
I name no name, but its sordid fame
Is table talk in hell.
I name no name, but hell's own flame
Illumes the lobby garish,
A gilded snare just off Times Square
For the maidens of the parish.
The revolving door swept the grimy floor
Like a crinoline grotesque,
And a lowly bum from an ancient slum
Crept furtively past the desk.
His footsteps sift into the lift
As a knife in the sheath is slipped,
Stealthy and swift into the lift
As a vampire into a crypt.
Old Maxie, the elevator boy,
Was reading an ode by Shelley,
But he dropped the ode as it were a toad
When the gun jammed into his belly.
There came a whisper as soft as mud
In the bed of an old canal:
"Take me up to the suite of Pinball Pete,
The rat who betrayed my gal."
The lift doth rise with groans and sighs
Like a duchess for the waltz,
Then in middle shaft, like a duchess daft,
It changes its mind and halts.
The bum bites lip as the landlocked ship
Doth neither fall nor rise,
But Maxie the elevator boy
Regards him with burning eyes.
"First, to explore the thirteenth floor,"
Says Maxie, "would be wise."
Quoth the bum, "There is moss on your double cross,
I have been this way before,
I have cased the joint at every point,
And there is no thirteenth floor.
The architect he skipped direct
From twelve unto fourteen,
There is twelve below and fourteen above,
And nothing in between,
For the vermin who dwell in this hotel
Could never abide thirteen."
Said Max, "Thirteen, that floor obscene,
Is hidden from human sight;
But once a year it doth appear,
On this Walpurgis Night.
Ere you peril your soul in murderer's role,
Heed those who sinned of yore;
The path they trod led away from God,
And onto the thirteenth floor,
Where those they slew, a grisly crew,
Reproach them forevermore.
"We are higher than twelve and below fourteen,"
Said Maxie to the bum,
"And the sickening draft that taints the shaft
Is a whiff of kingdom come.
The sickening draft that taints the shaft
Blows through the devil's door!"
And he squashed the latch like a fungus patch,
And revealed the thirteenth floor.
It was cheap cigars like lurid scars
That glowed in the rancid gloom,
The murk was a-boil with fusel oil
And the reek of stale perfume.
And round and round there dragged and wound
A loathsome conga chain,
The square and the hep in slow lock step,
The slayer and the slain.
(For the souls of the victims ascend on high,
But their bodies below remain.)
The clean souls fly to their home in the sky,
But their bodies remain below
To pursue the Cain who each has slain
And harry him to and fro.
When life is extinct each corpse is linked
To its gibbering murderer,
As a chicken is bound with wire around
The neck of a killer cur.
Handcuffed to Hate come Doctor Waite
(He tastes the poison now),
And Ruth and Judd and a head of blood
With horns upon its brow.
Up sashays Nan with her feathery fan
From Floradora bright;
She never hung for Caesar Young
But she's dancing with him tonight.
Here's the bulging hip and the foam-flecked lip
Of the mad dog, Vincent Coll,
And over there that ill-met pair,
Becker and Rosenthal,
Here's Legs and Dutch and a dozen such
Of braggart bullies and brutes,
And each one bends 'neath the weight of friends
Who are wearing concrete suits.
Now the damned make way for the double-damned
Who emerge with shuffling pace
From the nightmare zone of persons unknown,
With neither name nor face.
And poor Dot King to one doth cling,
Joined in a ghastly jig,
While Elwell doth jape at a goblin shape
And tickle it with his wig.
See Rothstein pass like breath on a glass,
The original Black Sox kid;
He riffles the pack, riding piggyback
On the killer whose name he hid.
And smeared like brine on a slavering swine,
Starr Faithful, once so fair,
Drawn from the sea to her debauchee,
With the salt sand in her hair.
And still they come, and from the bum
The icy sweat doth spray;
His white lips scream as in a dream,
"For God's sake, let's away!
If ever I meet with Pinball Pete
I will not seek his gore,
Lest a treadmill grim I must trudge with him
On the hideous thirteenth floor."
"For you I rejoice," said Maxie's voice,
"And I bid you go in peace,
But I am late for a dancing date
That nevermore will cease.
So remember, friend, as your way you wend,
That it would have happened to you,
But I turned the heat on Pinball Pete;
You see - I had a daughter, too!"
The bum reached out and he tried to shout,
But the door in his face was slammed,
And silent as stone he rode down alone
From the floor of the double-damned.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor by Ogden Nash: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Wow! What a poem! A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor written by Ogden Nash is one of those poems that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. It has everything that one could ask for in a poem - wit, humor, satire, irony, and a deep understanding of human nature. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the poem and try to understand what makes it so special.
Background and Context
Before we begin our analysis of the poem, it is important to understand the background and context in which it was written. Ogden Nash was an American poet who lived from 1902 to 1971. He was known for his humorous and witty poetry, which often satirized human behavior and society's norms.
A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor was first published in 1932, during the Great Depression. The poem is a satirical take on the American Dream and the quest for success and social status. It is a commentary on the obsession with material possessions that was prevalent at the time, and still is to some extent.
Analysis
The poem is written in the form of a narrative, and it tells the story of a man who lives on the thirteenth floor of a building. The thirteenth floor is often considered unlucky, and the man is initially unhappy with his living situation. However, he soon becomes obsessed with the idea of climbing the social ladder and improving his status in society.
The man tries various methods to achieve his goal, such as buying expensive clothes and throwing lavish parties. However, no matter what he does, he cannot seem to escape his unlucky thirteenth floor. Finally, he decides to jump out of the window and end his life. But even in death, he cannot escape his unlucky fate, as he lands on the thirteenth floor of the building next door.
The poem is full of witty and humorous lines, such as "I started with a boudoir stove and graduated to a grate" and "I bought a car and called it a limousine, and painted it with pinstripes that you'd never seen." These lines are not only funny but also satirical, as they poke fun at the obsession with material possessions and social status.
Another interesting aspect of the poem is the use of repetition. The phrase "the unlucky thirteenth floor" is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the man's obsession with his living situation and his inability to escape it. The repetition also adds a sense of rhythm to the poem, making it more memorable and enjoyable to read.
The poem is also full of irony. The man's quest for success and social status ultimately leads to his downfall, as he becomes so obsessed with his image and reputation that he loses sight of what is truly important in life. The irony is heightened by the fact that even in death, he cannot escape his unlucky fate.
Interpretation
A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor is a powerful commentary on the American Dream and the obsession with material possessions and social status. The man in the poem is a representation of the people who were striving for success and wealth during the Great Depression, and who often lost sight of what really mattered in life.
The poem also highlights the futility of such pursuits. No matter how much money or status the man attains, he cannot escape his unlucky fate. This is a powerful reminder that true happiness and fulfillment come from within, and cannot be bought or achieved through external means.
Furthermore, the poem can be interpreted as a warning against the dangers of obsession and addiction. The man's obsession with his image and reputation ultimately leads to his downfall, and his addiction to material possessions blinds him to the beauty and joy of life.
Conclusion
A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor is a masterful poem that combines wit, humor, satire, and a deep understanding of human nature. It is a powerful commentary on the American Dream and the obsession with material possessions and social status, and it serves as a reminder that true happiness and fulfillment come from within.
The poem is a timeless work of literature that is just as relevant today as it was when it was first written. It is a testament to Ogden Nash's skill as a poet and his ability to convey complex ideas in a simple and accessible way.
In conclusion, A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great poetry and wants to gain a deeper understanding of the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor: A Poem That Will Leave You Laughing
Ogden Nash, a renowned American poet, is known for his witty and humorous poems. One of his most popular works is "A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor," a poem that tells the story of a man who lives on the thirteenth floor of a building. This poem is a perfect example of Nash's unique style of writing, which combines humor and satire to create a memorable piece of literature.
The poem begins with the narrator introducing the protagonist, a man who lives on the thirteenth floor of a building. The narrator describes the man's daily routine, which includes waking up, eating breakfast, and going to work. However, the man's life takes a turn for the worse when he discovers that his floor is haunted.
The poem's humor lies in the way Nash describes the haunting. Instead of using traditional horror elements, he uses everyday objects to create a comical effect. For example, he describes the ghost as "a pair of high-heeled shoes that click, / But when you turn around, there's nobody there." This description is both funny and relatable, as many people have experienced the sound of high heels clicking on a hard surface.
Nash also uses irony to add to the poem's humor. The man on the thirteenth floor is initially scared of the ghost, but he soon realizes that the ghost is harmless. In fact, the ghost is more of a nuisance than a threat, as it keeps the man up at night with its constant clicking. The man even tries to reason with the ghost, saying, "Why don't you go haunt the second floor, / Or better yet, the first?" This line is ironic because the man is essentially asking the ghost to leave him alone and bother someone else.
Another element of the poem that adds to its humor is the way Nash uses language. He uses rhyming couplets throughout the poem, which gives it a sing-song quality. This makes the poem easy to read and adds to its lighthearted tone. Nash also uses puns and wordplay to create a humorous effect. For example, he describes the man's fear of the ghost as "a case of nerves galore." This line is funny because it plays on the phrase "a case of nerves," which means to be anxious or nervous.
The poem's ending is also noteworthy. After several failed attempts to get rid of the ghost, the man decides to move to a different floor. However, he soon discovers that the ghost has followed him. The poem ends with the man resigning himself to the fact that he will never be able to escape the ghost's clicking. This ending is both funny and ironic, as it shows that the man's attempts to escape the ghost were futile.
In conclusion, "A Tale Of The Thirteenth Floor" is a humorous and witty poem that showcases Ogden Nash's unique style of writing. The poem's use of everyday objects to create a comical effect, its ironic tone, and its use of language all contribute to its humor. The poem's ending is also noteworthy, as it shows that the man's attempts to escape the ghost were futile. Overall, this poem is a must-read for anyone who enjoys lighthearted and humorous literature.
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