My Favorite poem
In Cities, Be Alert*****
BY Annie Finch You may hear that your heartbeat is uneven and let new tension climb around your shoulders, thinking you've found the trick for going mad. But try to keep a grip on where you are. Remember: all around you is pure city; try to stay alert. On the wide streets, so empty late at night, streaking in glass, the color of an alley, or the fall of a sideways flicker from a neon sign may utterly and briefly disconcert you-- but as you go, you'll find that noise is worse. Prepare for noise. But never scream. Even tensing ears too far in advance can sharpen sirens, and as for horns. ... When you're back to your normal rhythm after such encounters, just try to stay alert. You'll never know exactly who is coming up behind you, but the sudden movement of pedestrians will finally, of course, be what disarms you. |
People will always find trouble anywhere they go. People such as parents teach younger ones how to manage their life outside- in the real world. Its all part of being humans, we all have to learn how to live our lives outside of our parents nest. Annie Finch’s poem, In Cities Be Alert, shows that sometimes people get scared with the thought of growing up and starting to live in the real world. Through diction and tone, Finch illustrates that part of growing up is to be careful with your surroundings because not everything is what it seems. The idea Finch expresses in the poem indicates the reader that the mood is thankful and pleased.
Finch begins her poem candidly showing how the person feels. For example she says, “You may hear that your heartbeat is uneven.” The speaker shows that with the thought of leaving and learning to live on their own she is already startled with the idea. Having your heartbeat uneven shows that people are nervous for what is going to happen. She probably has never taken a huge step like this one before. Occasionally when people are new to a place they get shy and nervous since they are in an unfamiliar area. The tone is light and calm, the speaker views this as something usual that can happen to anyone. However, in the stanzas that continue afterwards the speaker’s tone changes into more instructive showing that at all times she has to stay alert and be careful. In the second stanza, the speaker’s tone changes from light and calm to informative and direct. For example, when she says, “Remember: all around you is pure city; try to stay alert.” The speaker is informing the person to be sure that even if it’s a glamorous place they have to be cautious with their surroundings. Occasionally people in a new place get distracted with all the things a place has to give but, if that’s the case people have to be watchful of themselves. In any place many things can happen in a matter of time. People can often think that if they are in a familiar area nothing will happen but sometimes that is not what will happen. Any place in this world can be dangerous and to prevent from something to occur people have to pay close attention to everything that surrounds them at even in familiar places. How does the speaker feel? Are they stressed out or calm? The speaker seems concerned by not knowing how the people will do by themself. It’s like when a mom lets their child out with friends without their supervision. At times I suppose the speaker is a mom because of the way they talk to the person. Moms are usually always on top of their children to make sure they are doing everything right and to make places a save environment for them. In this poem it is like she wants the city to be a safe area for her daughter/son so there won’t be any harm towards them. As the poem advances the speaker turns more directing and instructive. In the last two stanzas, the speaker continues being instructive to the person who is learning to live on their own. The speaker shows this by making sure that she is being careful: “When you're back to your normal rhythm after such encounters, just try to stay alert. You'll never know exactly who is coming up behind you, but the sudden movement of pedestrians will finally, of course, be what disarms you.” The speaker directs at the person to make sure that she is receiving all her suggestions. She gives all the reasons to why she should be careful in a big city. The speaker is giving advice like the ones parents give to their children, to watch out for people because you never know who they really are. I wasn’t so sure when she said “what disarms you” I thought it meant when something weakens you. I paraphrased it and it did make sense, since sometimes pedestrians can be dangerous and if they do anything to you, that’s what will make you weak. This does actually happen in the real world so perhaps that is why the speaker included it to make sure the person is open eyed. By the end of the poem I came to a conclusion that with the use of tone and diction that the poet uses, it expresses the mood thankful and pleased. I came to this realization by putting close attention to what exactly the poet is saying and the idea they want to put across. It made me feel that if I were to be the daughter/son I would be thankful for having a concerned parent that wants to protect me at all times. In the end I felt as if the poet was relieved and pleased with all the suggestions she gave for her daughter/son. It was like she would’ve said “I did my job, now it’s their turn to take my advice.” Any child would be grateful with what they are getting from their parents and I personally think this is a great example of being careful with your children. In the poem In Cities Be Alert, Finch describes all the ways that people should be careful when they are discovering a new place. The speaker's tone and diction indicates that people should be attentive to what goes around them. She shows the positive things to a city but at the same time the ways it can affect certain people. The repetition of “just try to stay alert” suggests to the person to be thoughtful of what’s happening because at any time and at any place anything can happen. |