SO WHAT
Guess what. If love is only chemistry- Phenylethylamine, that molecule that dizzies up the brain’s back room, smoky with hot bebop, it won’t be long until a single worker’s mopping up the scuffed 5 and littered floor, whistling tunelessly, each endorphin cooling like a snuffed glass candle, the air stale with memory. So what, you say; outside, a shadow lifts a trumpet from its case, lifts it like an ingot 10 and scatters a few virtuosic riffs toward the locked-down stores. You’ve quit believing that there’s more, but you’re still stirred enough to stop, and wait, listening hard. Kim Addonizio’s poem “So What” evokes a feeling of loneliness and struggle. When I first read the poem, it reminded me of unrequited love and loss. However, the second time I read it, I began to think more of drug addicts and their fight to remain clean. To support this claim, line 1 says that “love is only chemistry”. If love is such a good feeling, but is scientifically proven to be made up of chemicals, is it all of a sudden a lie? The most addicting substances in the world (i.e. drugs and the feeling of falling in love) are made up of pure compounds and neurotransmitters. Since their roots are in basic chemical structures, are they really so dangerous? Phenylethylamine (line 2) is a member of a class of chemicals that is known for its psychoactive and stimulative effects. It’s interesting that Addonizio would mention it in her poem because phenylethylamine is not an active compound in addictive drugs or the chemistry of love. So it’s not terrible, right? Lines 2-4 say, “that molecule that dizzies up the brain’s back room, smoky with hot bebop,” These lines support the fact that whatever the narrator is high on (be it romance or drugs), it causes a fulfilling feeling. The poem changes when Addonizio says “it won’t be long until a single worker’s mopping up the scuffed and littered floor,” meaning that while the high is enjoyable, it is short and the fall is painful. Lines 7-8 say, “each endorphin cooling like a snuffed glass candle, the air stale with memory.” The feelings from the intoxication are wading away and regrets from the previous emotional/physical high begin. The trumpet sound mentioned in line 11 is described as virtuosic and almost angelic, like a savior coming. The ending lines (12-14) confirm that this particular addiction is one that’s hard to quit. Every time you say that you’ve quit smoking, using, or being with that person, you find yourself right back where you began. The wake-up call from trumpet always sounds in your head, but it never stays long enough to keep you on track. I realized that love and drugs can both be dangerous and addicting (even though they are made up of innocent chemical compounds) and that the poem weaves these two things interchangeably. One line you think is referencing a lover and the next, a drug addict. Addonizio skillfully uses the similarities of both conditions to highlight the danger of falling in love and picking up a needle.
10 Comments
Kaylee Olivas
12/1/2016 10:05:33 am
I love how you looked at the poem from two different perspectives. I agree that both topics mentioned throughout the poem are quite dangerous and that both are short and painful. From reading your analysis of the poem, I could really comprehend more of the reading. You did an excellent job!
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Haleigh
12/2/2016 05:49:14 am
I love how much you analysized the poem and put it in your own words. Also how you looked at it form two different sides, great analysis!
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Caroline Vincent
12/5/2016 06:18:56 am
This is a really interesting analysis. I liked how you supported all of your claims with evidence and specific quotes from the poem. In addition, I liked how you talked about the two different interpretations you had of the poem and how you supported each one with quotes. Good job!
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Tanvee Wakankar
12/5/2016 06:20:49 am
This is a really good analysis of the poem! I agree with you because I also think that the poem is talking about love. It can be dangerous, addicting, and painful when it's over. I also liked how you looked at the poem from two points of view, because I think both love and drugs could be the topic of this poem.
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Brian
12/5/2016 06:20:59 am
Sarah, first of all, nice work here. However, I don't know that love and drugs having chemical relations to neurotransmitters makes them a lie. If anything, things are even more definite and true when they can be proven on a molecular chemical level.
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Kirstie M.
12/5/2016 06:21:10 am
I loved your analysis. Even though your poem was short you were able to write a long and insightful poem. The first time I read the poem I also thought the poem was just talking about love; however, after reading your analysis I realized that the poem is also talking about drugs.
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Matt
12/5/2016 08:44:30 am
You did well backing yourself up with specific quotes from the poem. I also like how you had seperate lenses while reading the poem and i think both points of view are legitimate.
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12/6/2016 06:29:20 am
This is a very good analysis of the poem, and it's awesome that you researched what the molecule phenylethylamine is and its functions in order to further understand the poem. After reading the poem I also researched the compound and found that it is a component of chocolate, one of the reasons why chocolate is regarded as a mood-enhancer! I love that you connected the "high" feeling of love to that of a high experienced from drugs, noting that both will eventually fade. Great analysis!!
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Alex Ponce
12/6/2016 11:15:34 am
This is actually a very cool analysis.. I like how you notice the nuanced message of love, drugs, and "highs". I think the poem mostly talks about how the high of love is of more worth and value than the artificial euphoria of drugs. Love doesn't necessarily plunge you into those superficial highs and lows that drugs tamper chemicals for. Great choice of poem and great explanation of the meaning!
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Hello When Life Gives You Lemons, your fantastic diagnosis of the poem "SO WHAT" really got me thinking and something even I have reflected on in the past has been love being just made up of science and neurostimulators in the brain. I like how you picked up on that and really went through the poem looking at love from a scientific point of view.
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SarahI'm an AP English student and high school senior who loves everything about lemons and Grey's Anatomy. This is my blog to talk about literature and everything English. Archives
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