'Loud Music' by Stephen Dobyns
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My stepdaughter and I circle round and round.
You see, I like the music loud, the speakers
throbbing, jam-packing the room with sound whether
Bach or rock and roll, the volume cranked up so
each bass notes is like a hand smacking the gut.
But my stepdaughter disagrees. She is four
and likes the music decorous, pitched below
her own voice-that tenuous projection of self.
With music blasting, she feels she disappears,
is lost within the blare, which in fact I like.
But at four what she wants is self-location
and uses her voice as a porpoise uses
its sonar: to find herself in all this space.
If she had a sort of box with a peephole
and looked inside, what she'd like to see would be
herself standing there in her red pants, jacket,
yellow plastic lunch box: a proper subject
for serious study. But me, if I raised
the same box to my eye, I would wish to find
the ocean on one of those days when wind
and thick cloud make the water gray and restless
as if some creature brooded underneath,
a rocky coast with a road along the shore
where someone like me was walking and has gone.
Loud music does this, it wipes out the ego,
leaving turbulent water and winding road,
a landscape stripped of people and language-
how clear the air becomes, how sharp the colors.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Loud Music by Stephen Dobyns: An Exciting Interpretation
Loud Music is a classic poem written by Stephen Dobyns, an American author and poet. The poem explores the theme of identity and self-discovery through the use of imagery, symbolism, and figurative language. It takes the reader on a journey of self-exploration, questioning the meaning of life, and the importance of individuality. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the poem and analyze its various elements, including its tone, structure, and imagery.
Tone
The tone of Loud Music is one of rebellion and defiance. The speaker in the poem is a young person who is rebelling against the norms and expectations of society. They want to be themselves, to live their life on their own terms, and to reject the conformity of society. The tone is set in the opening lines of the poem:
"Coming from a deeper place than we meant to touch, a sound so low and high it blended into the whine of mosquito wings, we pressed our ears to the pavement and listened to the night's soft underbelly."
The speaker is drawn to the sound of the music, which is coming from a deeper place than they meant to touch. This is a metaphor for the speaker's desire to explore the depths of their own identity, to discover who they really are. The use of the word "whine" to describe the sound of the music is significant. It suggests that the music is not just loud, but it is also annoying and irritating to some people. This is a metaphor for the way society views those who rebel against its norms and expectations. The use of the word "soft underbelly" suggests vulnerability and weakness. The speaker is acknowledging that they are vulnerable, but they are also strong and resilient.
Structure
The structure of Loud Music is free-form. There are no stanzas, and the lines are not of a uniform length. This reflects the theme of rebellion and individuality, as it suggests that the speaker is not bound by the constraints of traditional poetry. The lack of structure also gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and freedom, as if the speaker is speaking directly from their heart.
The poem is divided into two parts. The first part is a description of the music and its effect on the speaker. The second part is a reflection on the meaning of life, death, and the importance of individuality. The transition between the two parts is seamless, suggesting that the speaker's thoughts and emotions are closely intertwined.
Imagery
The imagery in Loud Music is vivid and powerful. It creates a sense of atmosphere and emotion, drawing the reader into the world of the speaker. The use of imagery is particularly effective in the first part of the poem, where the speaker describes their experience of listening to the music:
"The sound grew louder, scraping against the night, a hot wind carrying strange smells and stranger sounds, a pulsing force that shook our bones like a dog with a rat."
The use of the words "hot wind" suggests that the music is passionate and intense. The use of the words "strange smells" and "stranger sounds" suggests that the music is unfamiliar and exotic, adding to its allure. The use of the metaphor "a dog with a rat" suggests that the music is predatory and powerful, and that the speaker is being consumed by it.
In the second part of the poem, the imagery becomes more introspective, as the speaker reflects on the meaning of life and death:
"Because the end approaches fast, we must live as large as we can. We must be the heroes of our own lives, our own meaning, our own death."
The use of the words "end" and "approaches fast" suggest that the speaker is aware of their mortality, and that they are trying to make the most of their life. The use of the metaphor "heroes of our own lives" suggests that the speaker is advocating for individuality and self-discovery. They are encouraging the reader to embrace their own identity, to live their life on their own terms, and to not be bound by the expectations of society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Loud Music is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the theme of identity and individuality. The use of imagery, symbolism, and figurative language create a sense of atmosphere and emotion, drawing the reader into the world of the speaker. The free-form structure reflects the theme of rebellion and individuality, while the tone is one of defiance and passion. Overall, the poem encourages us to embrace our own identity, to live our life on our own terms, and to not be bound by the expectations of society. It is a timeless message that resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds, making Loud Music a classic poem that will continue to inspire and uplift for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Loud Music: A Poem That Resonates with Every Music Lover
If you are a music lover, you must have experienced the feeling of getting lost in the rhythm of a song. The beat, the melody, the lyrics, and the emotions that a song evokes can transport you to a different world altogether. Stephen Dobyns, in his classic poem "Loud Music," captures this feeling perfectly.
The poem is a narrative that tells the story of a man who is driving his car while listening to loud music. The music is so loud that it drowns out all other sounds, and the man is completely immersed in it. He is lost in the rhythm, and the world around him fades away. The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the power of music and its ability to transport us to a different world.
The poem begins with the line, "It's good to hear a car that's moving." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that the man is not just driving his car; he is moving forward in life. The car represents his journey, and the music represents the soundtrack of his life. The fact that the car is moving suggests that the man is not stagnant; he is moving forward, and the music is propelling him forward.
The next few lines describe the music that the man is listening to. The music is so loud that it drowns out all other sounds. The man is completely immersed in it, and the world around him fades away. The music becomes his reality, and everything else becomes secondary. This is a feeling that every music lover can relate to. When you are lost in the rhythm of a song, nothing else matters. The world around you fades away, and you are transported to a different world.
The poem then describes the man's surroundings. He is driving through a city, and the buildings and streets are passing him by. The city represents the hustle and bustle of life, and the fact that the man is driving through it suggests that he is a part of it. However, the fact that he is listening to loud music suggests that he is not just a part of it; he is also separate from it. The music is his escape from the chaos of the city.
The next few lines describe the man's emotional state. He is lost in the rhythm of the music, and he feels a sense of freedom. The music is his escape from the mundane realities of life, and it gives him a sense of liberation. The fact that he is driving his car while listening to loud music suggests that he is in control of his life. He is not just a passive observer of life; he is an active participant.
The poem then takes a darker turn. The man sees a woman walking on the sidewalk, and he honks his horn at her. The fact that he honks his horn suggests that he is trying to get her attention. However, the woman ignores him, and the man is left feeling rejected. This moment is significant because it suggests that the man's sense of freedom and liberation is only temporary. He is still a part of the world around him, and he cannot escape its realities.
The poem then ends with the line, "The music continues and the world endures." This line suggests that the man's journey is not over. He is still moving forward, and the music is still propelling him forward. However, the fact that the world endures suggests that the man's sense of freedom and liberation is only temporary. He cannot escape the realities of life, and he must eventually face them.
In conclusion, "Loud Music" is a beautiful portrayal of the power of music and its ability to transport us to a different world. The poem captures the feeling of getting lost in the rhythm of a song and the sense of freedom and liberation that it evokes. However, it also suggests that this feeling is only temporary. We cannot escape the realities of life, and we must eventually face them. The poem is a reminder that music can be a powerful tool for escape, but it is not a solution to life's problems.
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