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"the slash as simple as opening as a letter"

Page history last edited by alex_leoncio@... 14 years ago

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The choice of words in this line is unexpected. The speaker says "the slash/ as simple as opening as a letter" (43-44), and there is an additional "as" (44), where it seems unnecessary. The speaker could say "the slash/ as simple as opening...a letter" (43-44). In addition, there is a physical "slash" to the poem itself; the line breaks on that word. 

The concept of this line is also unexpected. Much like the concept of "the razor...[and] toothbrush" image, the disjunction between slashing one's wrist and opening a letter is apparent. The former is tragic, messy and disturbing, whereas the latter is commonplace and holds no strong connotation. The speaker calls the cutting of his wrist "simple" (44), implying that the action is easy and not out of the norm.  

 

-Tara Bigdeli

Comments (1)

Tonya Howe said

at 1:43 pm on Mar 29, 2010

That extra "as" was a typo in the poem! :) How does this knowledge change your reading? I like what you're doing in the second paragraph, and the point about the line break as a slash is very interesting, too. Nice links!

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