TPCASTT: A Dream Lies Dead

A Dream Lies Dead

A dream lies dead here.
May you softly go
Before this place, and turn away your eyes,
Nor seek to know the look of that which dies
Importuning
Life for life.
Walk not in woe,
But, for a little, let your step be slow.
And, of your mercy, be not sweetly wise
With words of hope and
Spring and tenderer skies.
A dream lies dead; and this all mourners know:
Whenever one drifted petal leaves the tree-
Though white of bloom as it had been before
And proudly waitful of fecundity-
One little loveliness can be no more;
And so must Beauty bow her imperfect head
Because a dream has joined the wistful dead!

Haha, I must say, I love this poem. It's pretty depressing but Parker makes the topic light-hearted and not seem as bad as it may be. Although many refer to her poems as "emo"tional, I find them pretty funny (probobly because of how she turns such depressing topics into comical issues..which may be an aspect of wit I have been completely ignoring or overseeing.) I think this poem made me realize that in using "wit", humor must or almost always accompanies it within a piece. So that leads me to the question, how is it different from satire? That's one thing I need to find out because I find the lines crossing although wit is more about general topics and not specific real life situations which are poked fun at.
Ok, now time for yet another TPCASTT...I know they are long, but they are the most helpful in this case of trying to see HOW wit is created though the language and imagery presented in the poems I often read.
Title: At first I thought this poem was going to be very depressing...which is important (in terms of the reader's perspectic expecting it to be but in the end, it wasn't), in Parker's case, because Parker mocks the intensity by which people react to a situation. Also, the use of simple diction really makes the meaning stick out that a dream is dead...not sugar-coating this fact.
Paraphrase: The dream has died. I hope it goes softly from this place. Turn your eyes away from it softly and do not try to find out what it looks like when it's life was so dearly lost. Do not walk in woe but walk slowly. And, for your mercy, don't try to sugarcoat so "wisely" with hope and indication that the sun will come out tommorow and that everything will be ok. A dream has died and all those who mourn know this and whenever a tree loses a leaf, although it is replaced, it can no longer be as lovely. So Beauty must bow her head because the dream is now dead!
Connotations (my favorite): What gives this poem its affect is the powerful words used and their connotations they imply.
"Dream" and "dead": the juxtaposition of these two words are necesary for the affect this poem gives off. "dream" is a highly connotative positive word implying ambition, perserverance, or striving for success. "Dead" is a depressing and dreary word that would not generally be combined with such a positive word like "dream". Because the words have sharply contrasting connotation (as well as simplistic origins..both are simplistic in their diction) which brings the affect of the "intensity" of the situation...or what Parker wants us to think before she mocks how people percieve conflicts.
"Softly" is a very positive word referring to the unspecified pronoun "you" which can be taken as either those who the dream was so dearly to or the dream itself. The word brings about a sense of mourning or sympathy towards the situaion evoking a feeling of pity or sadness to the reader.
"Eyes" has a connotation referring to truth or reality. The line in which this word is incorporated in is basically the thesis of the poem although it is a slight pun because Parker is actually referring advising those who are devasted by the death of this "dream" to get over it and realize that it isn't as bad as it seems as opposed to the literal meaning of this sentance referring not to pay so much attension to this death.
"Woe": Brings about an image of a mourner or a woman dressed in black; highly depressing word; very dramatic.
"Step": This word can be taken a few different ways; it can be implied that this "step" is part of a greater journey and that they should not mourn but slow down for a little and continue afterwards; perserverance?
"mercy"/"sweetly wise": You know, just from the usage of these three words together makes me (the reader) feel a sort of bitterness towards the speaker although it is slightly amusing at the same time. "Mercy" is supposed to imply pity but she uses this in a negative sense because she basically says to the reader they should NOT be "sweetly wise" implying that they should not feel bad or even care about the dream dying which brings about the speaker's tone of bitterness or sharpness.
"Beauty": This also exemplifies the bitterness in the speaker's tone because she wants her to "bow down" which is highly negative and degrading because nature is the basis of everything and death is a part of nature so it's also ironic.
there are more but i felt as though these were the most important.
Attitude: Bitter and sharp..comical as well. (See connotation for how it's created)
Shifts: She first speaks of the dream dying, how others should percieve it, and then how Nature should bow down because of its "imperfections".
Theme: " Those who are devasted by the death of a "dream" should get over it and realize that it isn't as bad as it seems.
Title: A mockery of a dream dying and how one should react as opposed to the impulsive reaction that generally occurs.