I taught that poem for years, Emma, long after you exited the school's doors. It's so good, but what made it ideal for the setting was discussing that line about "secrecy of smiles" and whether it hints at all to avoiding public displays of affection given that the presumed person he's enjoying the coke with is his male lover.
Also, I've never been able to grasp "tree breathing through its spectacles." What?!
I love that you taught this there! Oh and I know, that line always makes me half charmed, half angry trying to wrap my head around it. I wonder if it’s more of that secrecy… Like this blissful absurdity that only they can share. I think he’s comparing them to the statues at that point? So I like to think he was thinking “statues are lame compared to us, this set of moving, breathing trees” and then he was like no trees are still too lame and expected for the weirdness of us.
I read a book about his life recently that was such a nice window into his personality btw. It’s called “Also a Poet.” I think you’d like it. And it mentions a lot how his estate was worried “Frank the enigmatic person” would be discussed more than “Frank the poet.” But personally I think it adds to the poems to know he was such a playful guy
Too funny. We live 25 minutes from Anaheim and go to Disney all the time. My daughter has ears for days. We aren't really Disney adults (wearing ears or pins or crazy backpacks), but we see plenty of people who are. People-watching at Disney is a whole national pastime.
I taught that poem for years, Emma, long after you exited the school's doors. It's so good, but what made it ideal for the setting was discussing that line about "secrecy of smiles" and whether it hints at all to avoiding public displays of affection given that the presumed person he's enjoying the coke with is his male lover.
Also, I've never been able to grasp "tree breathing through its spectacles." What?!
I love that you taught this there! Oh and I know, that line always makes me half charmed, half angry trying to wrap my head around it. I wonder if it’s more of that secrecy… Like this blissful absurdity that only they can share. I think he’s comparing them to the statues at that point? So I like to think he was thinking “statues are lame compared to us, this set of moving, breathing trees” and then he was like no trees are still too lame and expected for the weirdness of us.
I read a book about his life recently that was such a nice window into his personality btw. It’s called “Also a Poet.” I think you’d like it. And it mentions a lot how his estate was worried “Frank the enigmatic person” would be discussed more than “Frank the poet.” But personally I think it adds to the poems to know he was such a playful guy
Too funny. We live 25 minutes from Anaheim and go to Disney all the time. My daughter has ears for days. We aren't really Disney adults (wearing ears or pins or crazy backpacks), but we see plenty of people who are. People-watching at Disney is a whole national pastime.
25 minutes?! Ok I think that warrants the purchase of more than a few sets of ears 🤣
Oh for sure Seurat pissed himself on Space Mountain though. I mean, maybe not like one big stain - but for sure lots of little dots.
Wow... This right here… This is a top-tier joke. Seurat is mortified from the grave