Poetry Analysis Help!

[lu0s3r322]

I'm supposed to analyze this poem for homework. i can find a few of the themes such as selfishness and cherishing what you have but i need some more. also im supposed to pay attention the the visual style of the poem like why are some words spaced out and notice patterns in the poem.

Choices

If i can’t do
what i want to do
then my job is to not
do what i don’t want
to do

It’s not the same thing
but it’s the best i can
do

If i can’t have
what i want . . . then
my job is to want
what i’ve got
and be satisfied
that at least there
is something more to want

Since i can’t go
where i need
to go . . . then i must . . . go
where the signs point
through always understanding
parallel movement
isn’t lateral

When i can’t express
what i really feel
i practice feeling
what i can express
and none of it is equal

I know
but that’s why mankind
alone among the animals
learns to cry

 

[thedude110]

Am torn, as I don't particularly feel like helping you with your homework and don't feel I can ignore an invitation to the conversation.

So. Note the general absence of concrete nouns and the faux abstractions -- on ongoing poetry of lack, but also of resignation to the ongoing opening of time (read: "Choices," existentialism, blah blah blah). The "I" here exists only to generate platitudes from that resignation, and those platitudes in turn generate the "tears" at the end of the poem. That the tears are rooted in platitudes causes concern re: the poem's sincerity, but if it intends to be ironic, I wish it would at least have a sense of humor about it. If we're to read the platitudes as an accepted oppression, I guess that's at least interesting as it salvages the last lines as dark humor or as a mockery of shallow or insincere thought.

Ultimate problem may be that the poem is less about its language than it is about its idea that language can work its way out of its own mess (sorry, but I'm not willing to give up on sign/signifier here -- on the limit of language and perception).

Such that:

It's fine, but I really don't understand why poems feel the need to end with a boom, especially when they're struggling to earn a snap.

 

[TheDance511]

it just means do wut uwant and never look back... and not to be controlled..to me