Erica Jong

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In The Glass-bottomed Boat Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJKLKKGMN OPQRSTCUVW XYZA2B2C2D2SE2D2F2KC DDG2FH2D2I2D2JKKD2 I2 J2D2D2K2D2J2J2J2D2D2 UD2D2 LL2D2D2D2G2 J2D2M2D2D2E2 H2K2D2LJ2N2N2

In the glass bottomed boatA
of our lives we putter alongB
gazing at the other worldC
under the seaD
that world of flickeringE
yellow tailed fishF
of deadly moray eels of sea urchinsG
like black starsH
that devastate great brainsI
of coralJ
of fish the colorK
of blue neonL
fish the colorK
of liquid silverK
made by IndiansG
exterminatedM
centuries agoN
-
We pass we passO
always looking downP
The fish do notQ
look up at usR
as if they knewS
somehowT
their worldC
for the eternal oneU
ours forV
the merely time boundW
-
The engine sputtersX
Our guide a sweetY
black boy with skinZ
the color of molten chocolateA2
asks us of the price of jeansB2
karate classesC2
in the StatesD2
Surfboards tooS
delight himE2
skateboardsD2
He wants to sail sail sailF2
not putterK
through the worldC
-
so do weD
so do weD
wishing for the freedomG2
of the fishF
beneath the reefH2
wishing for the crevicesD2
of sunken shipI2
with its rusted eyeholesD2
its great ribbed hullJ
its rotted rudderK
its bright propellerK
tarnishing beneath the seaD2
-
'They sunk this shipI2
on purpose '-
says our guideJ2
which does not surpriseD2
usD2
knowing how lifeK2
always imitatesD2
even the shabbiestJ2
artJ2
Our brains forgedJ2
in shark seawreck epicsD2
we fully expect to seeD2
a wreck like this oneU
made on purposeD2
for our eyesD2
-
But the fish swim onL
intimating deathL2
intimating outer spaceD2
even the oceansD2
within the bodyD2
from which we comeG2
-
The fish are uninterestedJ2
in usD2
What hubris to thinkM2
a shark concentratesD2
as much on usD2
as we on himE2
-
The creatures of the reefH2
spell death spell lifeK2
spell eternityD2
still we putter onL
in our leaky little boatJ2
halfway thereN2
halfway thereN2

Erica Jong



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