First Poem for You by Kim Addonizio - Essay Example

"First Poem for You" by Kim Addonizio The first line then can be called in terms of rhythm, iambic dimeter and anapestic dimeter because there are two iambs and two anapests. The second line reflects another meter called trochaic. Trochaic, like iambic is a two syllable meter which is its opposite, having a stressed syllable preceding the unstressed syllable and seen in the word ‘darkness’ where ‘dark’ is stressed and ‘-ness’ is unstressed. The other phrases use the iambic and anapestic meters recently mentioned.

The dactylic meter is introduced in the third line through the phrase ‘know by heart’ which is the opposite of anapest with the stressed syllable coming before the unstressed syllables. The fifth meter known as the spondaic is seen in the fifth line in the phrase ‘can find’ exemplifying two consecutive strong syllables. In addition to these observations, the poem is considered to have a rising meter because most of its lines start with unstressed syllables with the exception of the second line which starts with a stressed syllable.

The poem is composed of one stanza with fourteen lines comprising of not very long nor very short lines, using the lineation called typography wherein the sentences or phrases are ridiculously arranged. Usually, the sentences or phrases are broken, starting a new line with part/s of the preceding line. Looking at the form of the poem, there could be no problem with it however, when one reads the poem, the words seem to be jumbled up because of the division of phrases which is not in the common form.

This then makes it difficult for an individual to analyze the poem that sometimes one even needs to reread the lines before coming to an understanding of the poem’s form. The enjambment in the poem is shown by the punctuation marks used which are very helpful in understanding the poem especially so, that it is arranged in an uncommon way as mentioned earlier. The periods and commas tell the reader to pause, to have a fall or rise in the rhythm guiding the reader not to get lost in the arrangement of words in the poem.

Assonance and sibilance in the poem may be present but not very distinct and consistent. Assonance may be exemplified by the ‘eh’ sound in the second line from the words ‘darkness’, ‘when’, ‘can’t’, and them while sibilance can be seen in the ‘s’ and ‘sh’ sounds on the fourth, sixth, and tenth to the last lines. In addition to these factors used in the analysis of the poem, the tone can be said to be erotic, talking about sex which is clearly seen as one continues to study the symbolisms in the poem.

The words used in the poem have sexual symbolisms which lets the reader understand further the thoughts of the poet. Lightning, for instance, suggests strong emotions as in the shock an individual experiences from an electrical shock or a sudden and unexpected event. This then represents the strong emotions of the lover towards his/her beloved which he/she can not control as lightning is uncontrollable. This is a metaphor used in the poem, implicitly comparing the effects of lightning to one’s emotions as well as the thrill present in the experience of a new and sudden event.

Water, serpent, and dragon can all symbolize life or new life. Water being