Deep Depressing/Sad Poetry Mini-Analysis/Annotated TextBy Brajan Kowalski

Stasis in darkness. Then the substanceless blue

Pour of tor and distances.

God's lioness, How one we grow,

Pivot of heels and knees! -- The furrow Splits and passes, sister to

The brown arc Of the neck I cannot catch,

Nigger-eye

Berries cast dark Hooks –

Black sweet blood mouthfuls,

Shadows. Something else

Hauls methrough air –

Thighs, hair; Flakes from my heels.

White

Godiva, I unpeel – Dead hands, dead stringencies.

And now I

Foam to wheat, a glitter of seas. The child's cry

Melts in the wall.

And I Am the arrow,

The dew that flies

Suicidal, at one with the drive Into the red

Eye, the cauldron of morning.

ArielBy Sylvia Plath “Ariel” is a poem about a

woman riding upon a horse, first in the darkness of dawn, she becomes more in touch with the horse, and begins to gain speed and becomes an “arrow” darting through the morning. After reading some analysis papers on the poem, I’ve become very confused as to the meaning of the poem. The speaker compares herself to Lady Godiva, who gracefully rode naked upon her horse in order to protest a tax which her husband bestowed upon his tenants, which [to me] symbolizes freedom. The fact that the woman is riding a horse, is also in itself a symbol of freedom and being able to ride where she pleases. As the woman frees herself from the darkness of humanity and becomes “at one with the drive (meaning ride/horse)”. She takes a suicidal leap into red “cauldron of the morning” ready to take on life, and free herself from the depression and from the darkness.  

The WishBy Alexander

Pushkin

I shed my tears; my tears – my

consolation;

And I am silent; my murmur is dead,

My soul, sunk in a depression’s shade,

Hides in its depths the bitter exultation.

I don’t deplore my passing dream of life

–

Vanish in dark, the empty apparition!

I care only for my love’s infliction,

And let me die, but only die in love!

“The Wish” is a rather simple poem to understand, the speaker is clearly describing his emotions. They start out by explaining that their tears, which mean sadness and negative emotion, is their consolation, or their comfort tool. The next two lines explain that the speaker is unheard, perhaps his wailing and cries are not herd, “And I am silent; my murmur is dead,” the writer is clearly attempting to be heard but is neglected. He then explains that his soul, or life, is “sunk in a depression’s shade, Hides in its depths the bitter exultation” he is depressed and sad, his emotions are low. The tone of the poem becomes darker where Alexander writes, “I don’t deplore my passing dream of life-Vanish in dark, the empty apparition,” the writer’s dream is to disappear quietly and unnoticed. He states that he only cares for his love’s infliction and begs to die, but only to die in love. The title, “The Wish,” must be the wish for death. 

Pantoum of the Great DepressionDonald Justice

Our lives avoided tragedySimply by going on and on,

Without end and with little apparent meaning.Oh, there were storms and small catastrophes.

Simply by going on and onWe managed. No need for the heroic.

Oh, there were storms and small catastrophes.I don't remember all the particulars.

We managed. No need for the heroic.There were the usual celebrations, the usual sorrows.

I don't remember all the particulars.Across the fence, the neighbors were our chorus.

There were the usual celebrations, the usual sorrowsThank god no one said anything in verse.

The neighbors were our only chorus,And if we suffered we kept quiet about it.

At no time did anyone say anything in verse.It was the ordinary pities and fears consumed us,

And if we suffered we kept quiet about it.No audience would ever know our story.

It was the ordinary pities and fears consumed us.We gathered on porches; the moon rose; we were poor.

What audience would ever know our story?Beyond our windows shone the actual world.

We gathered on porches; the moon rose; we were poor.And time went by, drawn by slow horses.

Somewhere beyond our windows shone the world.The Great Depression had entered our souls like fog.

And time went by, drawn by slow horses.We did not ourselves know what the end was.

The Great Depression had entered our souls like fog.We had our flaws, perhaps a few private virtues.

But we did not ourselves know what the end was.People like us simply go on.

We have our flaws, perhaps a few private virtues,But it is by blind chance only that we escape tragedy.And there is no plot in that; it is devoid of poetry.

“Pantoum Of The Great Depression” is a poem about the economic depression and the struggles. The poem talks about the storms and the hard times that everyone lived through. The poem uses a very interesting, non-patterned, form of repetition. The poet takes one line from each stanza and repeats it in the next stanza, however he doesn’t take the same line (such as line 1 each time or line 3 each time), instead he uses variations, forcing the reader to pay closer attention and think. The poem peaks about the hard emotional and physical times of the lack of food, the storms, the catasrphies, the lack of money and so much more. However, the speaker makes sure that in each stanza he gives a positive hopeful or some statement lessening the great issue. view of the issue. For example he says “small catastrophes”, even though they were always large issues, or he writes, “We managed. No need for the heroic,” implying that everything was okay, and there were no large issues. 

The Night by Gary R. Ferris

Still a mystery,I can’t figure out;Race home from work,Where life is without.*****I race to see you,And hold you to me;My mind says you’re there,And my heart won’t see.*****I open the door,It’s still a surprise:You’re not there,And tears fill my eyes.*****I need someone,Or call on the phone;But nothing breaks the silence,Of these walls made of stone.*****I punish myself,By refusing to eat:Depression is silent,I hear my heart beat.*****Where can I go,Or should I stay:Shy to choose,In bed I lay.*****Time will pass,And the dark sets in;Laying there wishing,I could still touch your skin.*****Lying there hurting,I wish I could die;Missing you so much,Again I start to cry.*****Sometimes I wonder,If you even know;The way that I need you,Would you still go.*****

I can’t sleep now,Again a long night;Are you this lonely,Do you share in my fright.

 

The Night” is very easy to follow and read, however the writer does not sacrifice easy reading for deep and powerful poetry. The poem starts out with a man coming home from work, however, as he gets home he is reminded that his lover is no longer there, and then finishes with him describing his dark depressing feelings. The poem never tells the reader what has happen to his lover, but I assume that his lover is not lost in dead, but instead they are still alive but has left him, due to the line “Are you this lonely, Do you share in my fright,” whilst speaking to his ex-lover. The speaker explains that he cries the moment he enters his home and remember his lover is gone, and that he is deeply lonely. He is not coping well with his feelings as he writes, “I wish I could die.”  

Taking It Day By Day

Vincent Ramos

Each day I live, the pain consumesWhat little sanity I have bloomedLike walking in a cloud of fogFalling down, sinking into smog

Life just seems grimI think on a whimInterest lost in everything I doBut what a life, who really knew?

Depressed to a fault, that all I seeDeath just seems like the only way for meA waste of time, I feel I amBut that's its nature, a full mind jam

I try and try to ease the painA fallen effort with no gainThoughts begin to eat awayMakes me want to end it today

Uncomfortable around others for the way I feelI pray and wish this all wasn't realLife just seems more like a prisonCaged, alone, an abomination risen

No one could ever understandWhy I would want my death sooner than plannedIts not something I want for meBut to end my suffering this is what has to be

So I write this all as I fall from graceDown to this place, some barren wasteI know not how much longer I will lastBut all I can do, is pray that this will just pass.

“Taking it Day by Day” is another poem that show descriptive emotion of the author. The author describes his pain of everyday, hence the title “Taking it Day by Day.” He uses similes and metaphors to help paint an image such as comparing his life to walking in a cloud of fog, or comparing each day to a prison. Feeling alone in life the speaker states, “No one could understand.” The emotion is very clearly outlined and there should be no confusion when it comes to the descriptions in the lines. However if the reader looks closely, he will notice the authors everyday struggle to continue on with life as he stuggles and weighs the option to take his life. The author writes, “Why I would want my death sooner than planned, Its not something I want for me, but to end my suffering this is what has to be.”

“Richard Cory” is a very powerful and moving poem. The poem gives the story of Richard Cory who is a very wealthy and famous man who lives in town. The poem describes his clean appearance, his smile, his glitter, his social skills, his effect on people, his wealth, and his admiration. After Richard’s amazing traits are described the towns people are summed up in two lines, “Soon we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the break.” The town’s people are very poor, living on bread alone. The final two lines finish the poem effectively and beautifully giving us a very emotional message and lesson, “And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet through his head.” Even though Richard was wealthy and had everything he could ask for, he was miserable on the inside. So miserable, in fact, that he took his own life to escape his pain.

Richard CoryEdwin Arlington Robinson

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,We people on the pavement looked at him:He was a gentleman from sole to crown,Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said,'Good-morning,' and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -And admirably schooled in every grace:In fine, we thought that he was everythingTo make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,Went home and put a bullet through his head. 

“Inside Out” is a poem about a girl that is struggling with her inner emotions. The poem describes the girl’s outward appearance, however it also describes her inner feelings that she experiences. The girl on the outside is happy, she brightens rooms, is fearless and tough, full of life, and has a perfect image. On the other hand, inside she hides her dark grim depression that she experiences. The author uses repetition very effectively as each 1 line starts with “Outside lives a girl with…” and each 2 line starts with “yet inside hides a girl…” Normally the reader would become bored with such repetition, however in this poem this is not the case. The words that follow the repetitious introduction to each line are what the reader is forced to pay attention too, and the author makes sure that these words are descriptive, colorful, and meaning full, for example “…hides a girl screaming her lungs out in unwanted anger.”

 

Inside Out© Angie FloresOutside lives a girl with a smile that will brighten up the room,yet inside hides a girl with a frown full of despair.

Outside lives a girl with eyes of joy that brings you to ease,yet inside hides a girl shedding tears of sadness.

Outside lives a girl with a beautiful laugh that's contagious,yet inside hides a girl screaming her lungs out in unwanted anger.

Outside lives a girl with the personality everyone envies,yet inside hides a girl full of insecurities and shame.

Outside lives a girl who is fearless and tough,yet inside hides a weak girl who lives in fear.

Outside lives a girl full of life,yet inside hides a girl full of pain, wanting to die.

Outside lives a girl with a perfect image,yet inside hides a girl with regrets and mistakes.

Outside lives a girl of innocence,yet inside hides a girl with tremendous guilt.

Outside lives a girl with goals and aspirations,yet inside lives a girl lost in confusion.

What you see on the outside is my personal disguise,What hides underneath you can't even begin to imagine.

My Daughter's Tears© Annabel SheilaUntil it affects someone we love,We don’t even know it’s there.It’s really not our problem,So why should we care.

The statistics are quite shocking,One in four they sayWill suffer from depressionIn their lives one day.

There’s not much stigma anymoreFor this serious mental flaw.But no one knows where it will strike,It’s just the luck of the draw.

No one would choose to live with it,And some don’t even try.I see my daughter sufferingAnd all she can do is cry.

Most people turn the other cheek,They’ve been doing it for years.But I must face the pain I see,In my daughter’s tears.

“My Daughter’s Tears” is a poem written by a mother describing her daughter’s depression. The poem starts out with the writer explaining that we don’t care about depression until someone we love is affected by it. She mentions that “One in four they say Will suffer from depression,” and that “No one would choose to live with it.” The seriousness of the issue is really portrayed when the author writes “And some don’t even try (to live with depression),” referring to suicide. The author is pouring her frustration with her daughters suffering into the poem stating that she watches her daughter cry, and sees nothing but pain in her face and her tears. The author’s word choice is what makes this a piece of art.

AloneEdgar Allan Poe

From childhood's hour I have not beenAs others were; I have not seenAs others saw; I could not bringMy passions from a common spring.From the same source I have not takenMy sorrow; I could not awakenMy heart to joy at the same tone;And all I loved, I loved alone.Then- in my childhood, in the dawnOf a most stormy life- was drawnFrom every depth of good and illThe mystery which binds me still:From the torrent, or the fountain,From the red cliff of the mountain,From the sun that round me rolledIn its autumn tint of gold,From the lightning in the skyAs it passed me flying by,From the thunder and the storm,And the cloud that took the form(When the rest of Heaven was blue)Of a demon in my view.

“Alone is a poem about a boy who since childhood was an outcast. This poem is very deep and uses many symbols and also uses an ABAB rhyme scheme. In order to help me grasp the full meaning of this poem I’ve read a few analysis. The author describes his feelings during childhood and whilst growing up, for example he writes, “And all I loved, I loved alone.” The speaker possibly lost his parents when young when he writes “From source to source I was taken My sorrow; I could not awaken,” this could possibly be referring to him being moved from foster home to foster home. The writer finishes off the poem stating that the rest of the Heaven was blue, meaning that life is meant to be good, but a demon (badness) is obstructing his view of heaven.

A Dream Within A DreamEdgar Allan Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!And, in parting from you now,Thus much let me avow-You are not wrong, who deemThat my days have been a dream;Yet if hope has flown awayIn a night, or in a day,In a vision, or in none,Is it therefore the less gone?All that we see or seemIs but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roarOf a surf-tormented shore,And I hold within my handGrains of the golden sand-How few! yet how they creepThrough my fingers to the deep,While I weep- while I weep!O God! can I not graspThem with a tighter clasp?O God! can I not saveOne from the pitiless wave?Is all that we see or seemBut a dream within a dream?

“A Dream Within A Dream” is a poem where the speaker speaks to his lover that he is about to part. This is another Poe poem, and so it religiously has a deeper meaning to what meets the readers eye’s. The narriator says that his days have been a dream, and that life isn’t as good as it seems. His life has seemed good, but it is just a dream within a dream and will soon be gone, just like the sand that he holds in his hand at the beach, and it just slips away.