Slam+Poetry

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I chose this poem because it really speaks to me how it talks about him not noticing his wife's depression and just brushing it off like it was nothing. It really describes the emotion behind him feeling somewhat guilty for her death, for not trying to help her through her depression. You can also hear his sorrow and loneliness now that his wife is gone. I really like how he uses fire as a metaphor for depression, saying "I was going to write a poem about how fire is the only thing that could make a person jump out of a window, and maybe I'm an idiot for thinking I could've saved her, call me her Knight in Shattered Armour, could've loved her more, or told her the truth about children, but depression, too, is a kind of fire, and I know nothing of either." He repeats the phrase "I am an idiot" or "I, like an idiot..." which means that it is important to the poem to say how guilty he feels. The regret, sorrow, and raw emotion in his voice is almost palpable when you watch the video. I cried. :P

He uses a few different poetic devises in this poem. The most important one he uses is fire, being a symbol for depression. He understands that he will never understand depression and how it affects a person's life. This poem is funny at times but also exceptionally moving and real. You can really feel the emotion he feels in this poem. He doesn't really use too many poetic devises though, instead he focuses more on different things that happened and how maybe if he would've taken what she said and really thought about it, he could've saved her. He could've been more loving, caring, or done something better to prevent her from jumping out that window. He talks about how he saw 40 or 50 people jump out the window of a burning building and that ties in with him stating how he thought that fire was the only thing that could make a person jump out of a window. He also says "and I swear I saw a perfect swan" but I've thought about this one and I can't quite figure out if it's supposed to be a symbol for something else or if it's a literal description of what he saw. Nonetheless, this is a beautifully written and performed piece of art.

Well Done. A thoughtful and comprehensive analysis. 30/36

Words to Depression Too Is A Type Of Fire: "I’m an idiot because once before we were married she asked me if I knew that if we did get married we would not be having children, and I said yes.

And because she knew that I was lying, she asked me if I was really okay with that. And because I’m an idiot I said yes again.

And once during a fight, not married more than a year, she said I feel like your first wife, and I, like an idiot, assured her that she was.

She worked out five times a week and smoked as many packs of ultra lights, and once when I asked her why, She said, //Because I hate myself and I want to die//. And I'm an idiot because laughed and said something I don’t recall, something utterly and completely insufficient.

From our rooftop, I saw 40 or 50 people jump from the towers on a Tuesday morning—we used to be able to see them to the south, just as we can still see, to the north, (and by “we” I guess I mean just me now) the Empire State Building, which still steeps me in gratitude because I’m an idiot— out of the smoke with arms flailing. And I swear I saw a perfect swan.

And I was going to write a poem about how fire is the only thing that can make a person jump out of a window.

And maybe I’m an idiot for thinking I could have saved her— call me her knight in shattered armor— could have loved her more, or told her the truth about children.

But depression, too, is a kind of fire. And I know nothing of either."