'Swing Shift Blues' by Alan Dugan

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American Poetry Review 25th Anniv. IssueMay/June 1999What is better than leaving a bar
in the middle of the afternoon
besides staying in it or not
having gone into it in the first place
because you had a decent woman to be with?
The air smells particularly fresh
after the stale beer and piss smells.
You can stare up at the whole sky:
it's blue and white and does not
stare back at you like the bar mirror,
and there's Whats-'is-name coming out
right behind you saying, "I don't
believe it, I don't believe it: there
he is, staring up at the fucking sky
with his mouth open. Don't
you realize, you stupid son of a bitch,
that it is a quarter to four
and we have to clock in in
fifteen minutes to go to work?"
So we go to work and do no work
and can even breathe in the Bull's face
because he's been into the other bar
that we don't go to when he's there.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Swing Shift Blues: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Are you looking for a poem that will make your heart sing and your soul dance? Look no further than Alan Dugan's "Swing Shift Blues." This classic poem is a celebration of life, love, and the power of music. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes and techniques used by Dugan to create this masterpiece of modern poetry.

Background Information

Before diving into the poem itself, let's take a moment to learn a little about the poet behind this work. Alan Dugan was born in 1923 in New York City and grew up during the Great Depression. He attended college at both Bates College and the University of North Carolina but did not finish his degree. Dugan served in the US Army during World War II and received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat. After the war, he worked a variety of jobs before eventually becoming a full-time writer. He published his first collection of poetry, "Poems," in 1961, which won the National Book Award. Dugan went on to publish several more collections before his death in 2003.

Form and Structure

"Swing Shift Blues" is a free verse poem, meaning that it does not follow a traditional rhyme or meter scheme. Instead, the poem is written in a conversational tone and uses everyday language. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different number of lines. The first stanza has eight lines, the second has six, and the third has nine.

Themes

One of the central themes of "Swing Shift Blues" is the power of music to bring people together. The poem describes a scene in which a group of people gather to listen to a band play jazz music. The speaker notes that the music has a "magic" quality that draws people in and makes them feel connected. This theme is reinforced by the repeated references to the band "playing for each other" and the way that the music seems to "fill up the whole room."

Another important theme in the poem is the idea of escaping from the struggles and hardships of everyday life. The speaker notes that many of the people in the room are "workers" who have spent their day doing "things that they don't like to do." However, when they listen to the music, they are able to forget about their troubles and lose themselves in the moment. This theme is reinforced by the repeated references to the music as a "drug" and the way that the speaker describes the music as "washing over" him.

A third theme in the poem is the idea that life is fleeting and that we must cherish the moments we have. The speaker notes that the band is "aging" and that they will not be able to play forever. However, in this moment, they are still able to create something beautiful and meaningful. This theme is reinforced by the repeated references to the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life.

Techniques

One of the most striking techniques used in "Swing Shift Blues" is the repetition of certain phrases and words. For example, the phrase "playing for each other" is repeated twice in the first stanza, emphasizing the idea that the band is creating something together. Similarly, the phrase "washing over me" is repeated twice in the third stanza, emphasizing the transformative power of the music.

Another important technique used in the poem is the use of sensory language. Throughout the poem, the speaker describes the sights, sounds, and feelings associated with the music. For example, he notes that the music is "loud and happy" and that it "fills up the whole room." These descriptions help to create a vivid and immersive experience for the reader.

Finally, the poem makes use of extended metaphors to convey its message. For example, the speaker compares the music to a "drug" that is able to transport people away from their troubles. This metaphor is reinforced by the repeated references to the music as a "high" and the way that the speaker describes the music as "washing over" him.

Interpretation

"Swing Shift Blues" is a powerful and evocative poem that celebrates the transformative power of music. Through the use of sensory language, repetition, and extended metaphors, Alan Dugan is able to create a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. The poem captures the joy and energy of a night spent listening to jazz music and emphasizes the importance of cherishing the moments we have.

At its core, "Swing Shift Blues" is a poem about the human experience. It reminds us that we all have struggles and hardships, but that we can come together and experience something beautiful and meaningful. It reminds us that life is fleeting and that we must appreciate the moments we have while we have them. And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us of the power of music to bring people together, to heal our wounds, and to lift our spirits.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Swing Shift Blues" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that celebrates the transformative power of music. Through its use of sensory language, repetition, and extended metaphors, the poem captures the joy and energy of a night spent listening to jazz music. It reminds us of the importance of cherishing the moments we have and of the power of music to heal our wounds and connect us to one another. If you are looking for a poem that will make your heart sing and your soul dance, look no further than "Swing Shift Blues."

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Swing Shift Blues: An Analysis of Alan Dugan's Classic

Alan Dugan's Poetry Swing Shift Blues is a classic poem that captures the essence of the working-class life in America. The poem is a reflection of the struggles and hardships faced by the working-class people who work long hours in factories and mills to make ends meet. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem's themes, structure, and language to understand its significance and relevance in today's world.

Themes

The poem's central theme is the monotony and drudgery of the working-class life. The speaker, who is a factory worker, describes his daily routine of working long hours in the factory, coming home exhausted, and going to bed. He laments the fact that he has no time for himself or his family and that his life is nothing but a routine. The poem also touches upon the theme of the dehumanization of the working-class people. The speaker describes himself as a "machine" and his co-workers as "robots." This dehumanization is a result of the factory system, which treats workers as mere cogs in the machine.

Structure

The poem is written in free verse, which gives it a conversational tone. The lack of a regular rhyme scheme and meter reflects the speaker's lack of control over his life. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different focus. The first stanza describes the speaker's work in the factory, the second stanza describes his home life, and the third stanza reflects on his life as a whole.

Language

The language used in the poem is simple and straightforward, which reflects the speaker's lack of education. The use of colloquial language, such as "ain't" and "gonna," adds to the poem's authenticity and gives it a sense of realism. The repetition of the phrase "swing shift blues" throughout the poem creates a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the monotony of the speaker's life.

Analysis

The poem's title, Poetry Swing Shift Blues, is significant as it combines two seemingly unrelated things: poetry and the swing shift. The swing shift refers to the shift worked by the speaker in the factory, which is from 4 pm to midnight. The swing shift is significant as it disrupts the speaker's daily routine and makes it difficult for him to spend time with his family. The use of the word "blues" in the title is also significant as it reflects the speaker's melancholic mood and his sense of hopelessness.

The first stanza of the poem describes the speaker's work in the factory. The use of imagery, such as "the hiss of steam" and "the clank of metal," creates a sense of the factory's harsh and noisy environment. The speaker describes himself as a "machine" and his co-workers as "robots," which reflects the dehumanization of the working-class people. The use of the word "whistle" in the last line of the stanza is significant as it marks the end of the workday and the beginning of the speaker's journey home.

The second stanza describes the speaker's home life. The use of imagery, such as "the smell of cooking" and "the sound of the TV," creates a sense of the speaker's domestic environment. The speaker describes his wife as "tired" and his children as "asleep," which reflects the toll that the swing shift takes on his family life. The use of the phrase "I ain't gonna wake them" in the last line of the stanza is significant as it reflects the speaker's sense of guilt and his desire not to disturb his family.

The third stanza reflects on the speaker's life as a whole. The use of the phrase "swing shift blues" throughout the stanza creates a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the monotony of the speaker's life. The speaker reflects on his life and laments the fact that he has no time for himself or his family. The use of the phrase "I ain't got nothin'" in the last line of the stanza is significant as it reflects the speaker's sense of hopelessness and his belief that his life has no meaning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Alan Dugan's Poetry Swing Shift Blues is a classic poem that captures the essence of the working-class life in America. The poem's themes of the monotony and dehumanization of the working-class people are still relevant today. The poem's structure and language create a sense of authenticity and realism, which adds to its significance. The poem's title, imagery, and repetition of the phrase "swing shift blues" create a sense of rhythm and emphasize the speaker's sense of hopelessness. Overall, Poetry Swing Shift Blues is a powerful and moving poem that continues to resonate with readers today.

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