Brooklyn cop (poetry) Flashcards
Stanza one
Built like a gorilla but less timid, thick-fleshed, steak-coloured, with two hieroglyphs in his face that mean trouble, he walks the sidewalk and the thin tissue over violence. This morning, when he said, ‘See you, babe’ to his wife, he hoped it, he truly hoped it. He is a gorilla to whom ‘Hiya, honey’ is no cliché.
Stanza two
Should the tissue tear, should he plunge through
into violence, what clubbings, what
gunshots between Phoebe’s Whamburger
and Louie’s Place.
Stanza three
Who would be him, gorilla with a nightstick,
whose home is a place
he might, this time, never get back to?
Stanza four
And who would be who have to be
his victims?
Key themes
Violence in modern cities.
The cop being as much of a threat as the criminals to the public.
The idea that society hasn’t evolved from its primitive ways
Contrast of pity and dislike for the cop
The fear of destruction in a violent society
Built like a gorilla but less timid
“Built like a gorilla,” is an example of a simile which compares the cop to a gorilla to show his physical side and impart the attributes of a gorilla’s emotional characters to make him seem violent and angry.
“But less timid,” is an example of word choice which tells the reader that the cop is less timid than an aggressive animal meaning he is ready to fight.
Thick fleshed and steak coloured with two hieroglyphs on his face that mean trouble,
“Thick fleshed and steak coloured,” is an example of an extended metaphor comparing the police officer to a gorilla and comparing his black uniform to the skin of a gorilla to show how much it protects him.
“Two hieroglyphs that mean trouble,” is an example of a metaphor, the hieroglyphs mean ancient carvings which on his face refer to scars to show how unlucky and hard his job is but also to make him more intimidating.
He walks the sidewalk and the thin tissue over violence
“He walks the sidewalk,” is an example of word choice which is used to show the cop is on his own on the streets of Brooklyn which makes him more vulnerable.
“Thin tissue over violence,” is a metaphor telling the reader that the cop is close to violence because tissue is a barrier between the cop and violence, and tissue is very easy to break through, especially if your a massive cop walking on the tissue. Shows that the cop is ready for violence and might be looking for a fight, shows the amount of crime in Brooklyn because of how close he is to the violence on the street.
This morning when he said “see you babe” to his wife he hoped it he truly hoped it
The use of the words “see you babe” is significant due to being called babe not a really endearing thing to call your wife. Almost implies an in balance in the relationship and shows he isn’t the most intelligent person in the world.
However we have a turning point and contradiction which is the repetition of he hoped it. This is because it is emphasising his worry for never getting to see his wife again which makes you feel pity for the man.
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He is a gorilla to whom hiya honey is no cliché
“Hiya honey is no Cliche,” is word choice used to represent how the cop speaks to his wife and shows he isn’t the most thoughtful person.
Should the tissue tear should he plunge through into violence,
“Should the tissue tear… violence,” is an extended metaphor used to refer back to the thin barrier between the cop and violence which means that hypothetically if the cop started a fight with someone or a criminal attacked the cop what would happen, shows MacCaig is worried this might happen.
What clubbings, what gunshots between phoebes whamburger and luis place.
“Luis place.” Is an example of caesura which is a full stop used to make the reader reflect on what has just been written in the poem, and makes you reflect on the violence and how the local people must be just as scared of the cops as the criminals.
“Phoebes whamburger… luis place,” is word choice of local places to make the violence seem more personal and makes you pity the victims of the violence.
“Clubbings and gunshots,” are examples of word choice which is done because clubbings refers back to primitive violence between cavemen and gunshots about modern society, MacCaig is commenting on how we haven’t moved away from our primitive ways because with the advancement of technology we just kill each other faster,
Who would be him gorilla with a nightstick, whose home is a place he might, this time never get back to?
“Gorilla with a nightstick,” a metaphor for the cops physical appearance and aggression.
Nightstick is used to show that all he has to defend himself his a baton which makes the reader think he is vulnerable.
“Whose home is a place he might, this time never get back to?” Is a rhetorical question used to make the reader reflect on the fact that the cop needs to be aggressive and ready for a fight because someone could attack him and kill him and makes his worries seem more real.
And who would be who to be his victims?
Another rhetorical question asking the reader how it must feel to be a victim of police brutality making you reflect on both the cops and the criminals and publics side.
And who would be who to be his victims?
Another rhetorical question asking the reader how it must feel to be a victim of police brutality making you reflect on both the cops and the criminals and publics side.
