 #1 (permalink) Fri Feb 22, 2008 17:27 pm Hi, I have questions about "Brass Spittoons" |
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Clean the spittoons, boy.
Detroit,
Chicago,
Atlantic City,
Palm Beach.
Clean the spittoons.
The steam in hotel kitchens,
And the smoke in hotel lobbies,
And the slime in hotel spittoons:
Part of my life.
Hey, boy!
A nickel,
A dime,
A dollar,
Two dollars a day.
Hey, boy!
A nickel,
A dime,
A dollar,
Two dollars
Buy shoes for the baby.
House rent to pay.
Gin on Saturday,
Church on Sunday.
My God!
Babies and gin and church
And women and Sunday
All mixed with dimes and
Dollars and clean spittoons
And house rent to pay.
Hey, boy!
A bright bowl of brass is beautiful to the Lord.
Bright polished brass like the cymbals
Of King David’s dancers,
Like the wine cups of Solomon.
Hey, boy!
A clean spittoon on the altar of the Lord.
A clean bright spittoon all newly polished—
At least I can offer that.
Com’mere, boy! |
1) What is the main theme of the poem? Who's the speaker? What is the speaker saying?
2) What does the poet suggest by "the steam," " the smoke," and "the slime." Can you explain them for me?
3) What does Baby, Church or Womem mean? What does the poet mean by saying that they 'mixed with money'?
4) Why is a bright, polished bowl like a cups of Solomons? What is Solomons? What does this line mean?
5) What does the last-but-one line mean? "Offer that," What is the 'that'? The speaker can offer the boy a bright bowl or what? Can you explain this line for me?
The poem's words are simple but the hidden meaning is very difficult to me. I don't understand this poem.
Thanks[/quote] |
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Sympathy
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Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 100
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Mister Micawber