“The Shoelace” by Bukowski and “Waking in the Blue” by Lowell Essay

The Shoelace by Charles Bukowski and Waking in the Blue by Robert Lowell have common features regarding theme, tone, language, and speaker. In these poems, the most significant emphasis is placed on understanding insanity and mental ailments. The definition and description of the metaphorical image of madness and the presence of some autobiography, personal emotions, feelings, and experiences connect the two poems. The Shoelace and Waking in the Blue are similar based on designating the theme of madness by poets as the main speakers, considering the pessimistic and sarcastic tone, using understandable language, and specific stylistic techniques.

The Specific Elements

Craziness, hopelessness, alienation, and despair are the central themes of The Shoelace and Waking in the Blue. Bukowski states, “it’s not the large things that send a man to the madhouse” (Bukowski 9-11). Not “murder, incest, robbery, fire, flood” upset people, but a series of minor troubles can bring individuals to despair, helplessness, or aggression and their psyche to anguish (Bukowski 12). Therefore, Lowell confirms the words of his “colleague,” concluding the poem with the phrase: “we are all old-timers, each of us holds a locked razor.” (Lowell 49-50). Hence, under the pressure of external circumstances and the influence of these minor troubles, people gradually go crazy for themselves, as Lowell felt unity with seriously ill patients in the hospital. Like a broken shoelace, an unlocked razor can represent such a “boiling point.”

Tone

These poems’ tone is conversational, dark, gloomy, mocking, and ironic. In The Shoelace, Bukowski seems to be talking to a reader one-on-one, expressing his opinion about the current picture of reality, cruelty, blows of fate, and problems that slowly drive one crazy. The irony is that the human psyche can be compared with a shoelace, which can break at any moment, even because of sometimes ridiculous and frivolous moments. However, one can find similar aspects in Waking in the Blue, in which Lowell tells a reader about other patients in the hospital as if empathizing and, at the same time, mocking them. Nonetheless, there is a place for dark thoughts filling his mind, too, and he says that even “azure day makes my agonized blue window bleaker” (Lowell 5-6). In addition, being in the ward as if in a cage, he had ideas about suicide.

Language

The language of the two poems is simple and understandable and is not devoid of stylistic techniques. Notably, The Shoelace and Waking in the Blue are poems about the personal, and they focus more on individual experiences and traumas. Although there is some carelessness and illogic in the composition of the lines, as well as a simple earthly language, these elements only enhance the meaning and significance of the poems.

Speaker

The speakers in The Shoelace and Waking in the Blue are individuals, that more disposed of not only to their inner world but also to a reader, telling about the hardships and difficulties in life. The speakers are narrators and actors through whom emotions, feelings, and images are transmitted. Their speech is sad and ironic, thoughtful and dynamic, straightforward and sophisticated, combining sometimes incongruous elements.

Conclusion

One should note that The Shoelace by C. Bukowski and Waking in the Blue by R. Lowell are mainly similar to each other. For example, the authors dive into such topics as insanity and madness, distortion of reality, cognitive dissonance, distancing, and hopelessness of being. Furthermore, they speak approximately the same accessible and down-to-earth language, thereby emphasizing the sad, gloomy, and sarcastic mood and thoughts.

Works Cited

Bukowski, Charles. “The Shoelace.” Poemhunter.com, Web.

Lowell, Robert. “Waking in the Blue.” Poets.org, Web.