Biography
- Born on October 2, 1879 in Reading, Pennsylvania
- Studied at Harvard for three years before dropping out
- Graduated from New York School in 1903
- Married to Elsie Viola Kachel in 1909
- Strained relationship with parents
- Joined Hartford Accident and Indemnity in 1916
- Published his first book Harmonium in 1923
- Died in August 2, 1955 in Hartford Connecticut
Existentialism
- Occurred during the late 19th century and 20th century
- Focus on analysis of existence of humans in this world
- Supports
- Free will
- Personal Responsibility
- Human nature is chosen through choices
- Doesn't support
- Worldly desires
- Social Values
The Emperor of Ice Cream
Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month's newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
Take from the dresser of deal,
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
Wallace Stevens
by Jonathan Hansen and Chuong Vu
Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month's newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
Alliteration
- "kitchen cups concupiscent curds"
Assonance
- "bid him whip"
- "Let be be finale of seem"
Oxymoron
Take from the dresser of deal,
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
Alliteration
Enjambment
Repetition
- "The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream
Persona: Funeral organizer
Tone: Authoritative, but sedate
Mood: Spirited, then shifts toward dampened
Theme: There's no reason to hide behind appearances, because in the end death is inevitable.
Type of Verse: Free Verse
The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso
Music: "Come Sweet Death" by Bach