Dear Laura Newbern,
I was looking at your Poem "The Man (On my birthday)" and I had a question about the tone used within this poem. More specifically I was wondering about the tone directed towards the state of Florida, or the image portrayed by the state of Florida. What I see happening is an initial tone of awe and wonder towards the scenery and state of Florida as shown with the word choice of "aqua thicket" and "the crystal sea". However there seems to be a shift in tone near the end of the poem. I noticed this when the scenery turned into "scrubby tree" and by describing the surrounding water, not as a crystal sea, but as lurking presence. It is almost as if you are trapped and Florida is a prison to you. It seems to me that this tone is brought on by the thought that Florida will continue to exist without the peanut man. Is this what you are trying to convey? That Florida will no longer be a beautiful place without the peanut man? It is clear that the poem takes a much sadder tone after you say that in the future it will be impossible to see another man like this man and his peanut stand. Thank you for your time and any insight you can offer to me on this subject.
Your fan,
Evan
What you might also look at for this subject is the significance of the title. "The Man" is understandable, but why is it significant that the poem occurs on the speaker's birthday? Can you connect that to the poem's movement or thoughts?
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