Poetry Essay

Poems are never alike. Each author has their own unique style and experiences that define the content of their poem, which is why all poems are different. Although all poems are different, there will always be one similarity. Creativity. Working Together, by David Whyte, and Everything is Going to be Alright, by Derek Mahon, are two poems that are extremely different though still hold some similar characteristics. Working Together is a poem that shows how every individual is impacted by the world around them, yet by working with each other a person can shape who they want to be. Everything is Going to be Alright is a poem that shows many negative endeavors that a person will go through, yet in the end life will move on and things will be alright again. These poems construct to totally different feelings and move in opposite directions, fighting through the surroundings or accepting what is happening. Both poems hold this pulsating shift from negative to positive and focus on how the surroundings impact a person, yet contribute entirely different themes and tones of reality compared to optimism.

These poems resort to a common idea of surroundings and what they do for a person. The authors from both of these poems use surroundings, but interpret them in an entirely different way. One author uses this feature to shape the character of someone, even if that person can use other surroundings to change their character. The other author uses surroundings as a measurement to the person's destination, whether they will be alright or not. Perspective is another idea that both authors cover, yet one author focuses on one perspective which is this content feeling after everything is said and done, while the other author looks at many perspectives and questions what is happening rather than accepting it. One unique similarity between these poems is how the author uses the end of the poem to summarize their main point or what they are trying to get the reader to understand. One ending sums that “Everything is going to be alright.”, while the other poem ends with “…by forming it well to the great intangibles about us.” Although both others use the end to summarize, their points are completely opposite in that one author chooses to accept what is happening and move on, where the other author takes on the challenge and makes the world shape itself around them.

The tones and themes of these two poems are found on opposite sides of the spectrum. The author of Working Together uses a reflective tone and looks back on the past, where the author of Everything is Going to be Alright uses an optimistic, sensitive tone. Tone relates to the theme in these poems. Mahon uses an optimistic tone and prevails a theme of always finding the positive and looking at the bride side of things. Whtye embeds a reflective tone that connects to a theme of looking at both sides and using their influence as a force to fight against the negative things. Mahon and Whyte both incorporate a shift that vacillates between negative and positive. An example of this is when Mahon mentions that everyone will experience death, yet everything is still going to be alright. Whyte does the same by touching on how the world shapes us, but in the end we, as humans, make the world shape itself around us. These two authors use the same structure and ideas, but take them in to different conversations and interpretations.

Poetry defines a person and allows a person to express their true emotions in an active and creative way. Each person will think differently and experience different things, which is why poetry can never be alike. In Working Together and Everything is Going to be Alright, Mahon and Whyte both use the same concept, but their minds travel in different directions. The ability to imagine and discover defines poetry. Mahon’s perspective is that no matter how many bad things happen, life will go on and people will get through it and find happiness some day through their surroundings that impact their lives so much. Whyte focuses on this idea that people are taking action and not letting the negative things that surround them shape who they are, but are taking these things and using them as an inspiration to work together and make a change. Poetry is where everything connects and the reader can decide which mind they will follow.