Manhattan, 1975 (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Carl Rakosi
- First Published: 1983
- Type of Work: Narrative
- Genres: Poetry, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: 1970’s, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Sex or sexuality, New York City, Prostitution or prostitutes, Roads, streets, or highways, City life, Death or dying, Politicians, Bible, biblical imagery, or biblical symbolism, Birds, Consciousness, Animals
The Poem
“Manhattan, 1975,” a narrative poem in free verse, deals with various aspects of city life. The nature of New York life is reflected in the form of the poem; half-lines that begin at the left margin alternate with headless lines that begin where the half-lines that precede them end, giving the poem a broken, fragmented appearance. The traditional stanza form is replaced by five syntactical and semantic units. The title refers to Manhattan in particular, but in its criticism “Manhattan, 1975” describes any city experience.
The poem alternates between the...
[The entire page is 1482 words long]
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