06-25-2026, 08:03 PM
The poem has a lot of images. It does a good job of showing
What I have a problem with is the narrative
I can’t link the trash man to the various scenes, to the tree and so forth. Why a trash man? Why would he weep? Why does he pop up everywhere? I’m sure the answer is there if I think about it enough, but the poem is too diffuse and vague to make me want to do that. It’s word pictures, but the poetry is lacking
Chromium-coated
hubcaps and bumpers
turn in the sun,
brightly painted boxes
and dull plastic sheets
flail in the wind,
kitchen utensils dangle
on long wires, a window
frame rests crooked.
Like this. The line endings are random and it’s a list. A mildly interesting list, perhaps.
What I have a problem with is the narrative
I can’t link the trash man to the various scenes, to the tree and so forth. Why a trash man? Why would he weep? Why does he pop up everywhere? I’m sure the answer is there if I think about it enough, but the poem is too diffuse and vague to make me want to do that. It’s word pictures, but the poetry is lacking
Chromium-coated
hubcaps and bumpers
turn in the sun,
brightly painted boxes
and dull plastic sheets
flail in the wind,
kitchen utensils dangle
on long wires, a window
frame rests crooked.
Like this. The line endings are random and it’s a list. A mildly interesting list, perhaps.