Thursday, September 16, 2010

"Pink Dog" by Elizabeth Bishop

The strange images and figurative language of this poem was unclear and absurd. I realize that the pink dog was not to be taken literally, but the image would not escape my mind nonetheless.

The dog part refers to the beggars on the streets, "anyone who begs, drugged, drunk, or sober, with or without legs" (lines19-20). These are the people which are suppose to be embarrassment of society and expose a society's failures and downfalls. But with the "pink" added to the "dog," beggars are supposed to be dressed up for the Carnival festivities. Since it is a time of celebration, no one wants to have to look at the lowliness of society. They fake the outcasts by dressing them up. Problems should be hidden during the celebrations. They will deal with the problems during Lent.

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