This Poem was Submitted By: Karen Ann Jacobs On Date: 2004-06-17 21:16:28 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Cartoons

Cartoons Miss the days of understanding cartoons When we could sit for hours Laughing A pie-eating groom A gun that went Boom! Splatters and messes And silly addresses Watch the kids watch cartoons They can sit for hours Laughing A rabbit in drag A big fat hag Singing and dancing And squirmy prancing Grown-ups watch cartoons We sit for hours Frowning

Copyright © June 2004 Karen Ann Jacobs


This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne M Uppendahl On Date: 2004-07-04 13:43:00
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.96296
Dear Kay-Ren: It's been frustrating because I wrote a long review yesterday, but when I clicked on SpellCheck.net and back to the critique, somehow I lost it! I have been itching to send my remarks to you, because I think that this is an outstanding poem, and also to return the favor as you have critiqued diligently, and several of mine. Most of all, I love the way you've patterned this super piece to bring out its theme, 'showing' us, rather than tell, how times have changed, how cartoons reflect the state of the world's (USA's?) sense of humor. The beginning of the poem leaves the "I" understood, which takes out the personal ego, and lets the reader place themselves within the piece. I had no trouble doing that, being a real 'cartoon kid' starting with the ones right after the newsreels during WWII, and ending with today's very different breed. Miss the days of understanding cartoons When we could sit for hours Laughing You made the poem so universal that I could identify with it, sitting in my all-day matinees (two full-length movies, with cartoons in the middle, of the Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird variety) for $.25 cents, plus popcorn. I supplemented these with the 'funny papers' and on that great day when my family got TV, lots of cartoons. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Porky Pig, "Crusader Rabbit", "Mister Magoo", "Mighty Mouse" and "Heckle & Jeckle". "Tom and Jerry" were some of the ones I enjoyed, then, with my children, "Huckleberry Hound", "Pixie and Dixie", "Snagglepuss", "Quick Draw McGraw", "Yogi Bear", "The Flintstones", "Rocky & Bullwinkle", "George of the Jungle" and "Dudley Do-Right" and finally, for all of us, "Peanuts". A pie-eating groom A gun that went Boom! Splatters and messes And silly addresses Great meter, 'funny rhymes' - action verbs, all contribute to the 'style' of this poem, which begins energetically, nostalgically. Watch the kids watch cartoons They can sit for hours Laughing A rabbit in drag --"Roger Rabbit"? A big fat hag --"Belleville Triplets"? Singing and dancing And squirmy prancing The action changes, the characters become much more cynical and worldly-wise. Then 'cartoons' like "South Park" cross lines of taste for many of us that redefine the genre. As you cleverly show, something has been lost! (and not only our senses of humor being engaged): Grown-ups watch cartoons We sit for hours Frowning Excellent! I didn't manage to capture all of my yesterday's remarks, but hope you'll see that I think you have a very worthy offering for us here. I like the economy of words, the way you've formatted it, and best of all, the observations which allow each of us to reach our own conclusions on the matter. Kudos and best wishes! All my best, Joanne


This Poem was Critiqued By: Rachel F. Spinoza On Date: 2004-07-03 23:08:10
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.94444
Yes...we do lose the ability to see the world as children - with that kind of fresh insight and that ability to laugh when the "Boom" sound is not real and the rabbit shows up in the next scene unscathed. The world has a way of making us serious. Good job. Thanks. Welcome aboard
This Poem was Critiqued By: Elaine Marie Phalen On Date: 2004-06-28 11:30:56
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Karen, This poem is #50 on my list so unless I jump down, I'll never get to it! I'm amused by the light-hearted tone and pleased by the consistent meter in your two rhyming passages. Your technique is effective, since you shift from unrhymed verse to rhymed, from the adult perspective to the cartoons themselves. The diction in S1, 3, 5 is more mature and serious, as befits the parental outlook. Geez, aren't we a dull lot??! In S2 and 4, the vocabulary suggests the child's approach, with its energy and acceptance of foolish humor. You use several active words, like "boom", "splatters", "dancing", "squirmy", to convey this idea. I also appreciate the change of perspective, from our own watching days, to the times when we watch our children as they're absorbed in the TV, to the frowning attitude we adopt when we think childish play is no longer appropriate for us (I've never quite gotten to that point, thank heavens). Yet a lot of grownups secretly turn on The Simpsons. Some even do it openly. Our love of cartoons can't be entirely squelched. There's a serious message cleverly incorporated into this playful piece. We do need to lighten up and start laughing again. Kids aren't the only ones who should be finding some joy in the simpler activities that life has to offer. And we shouldn't resent their enjoyment, either! Take Care, Brenda
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2004-06-22 09:13:40
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 5.00000
Interesting form taken with this poem, you state what you mean directly, concise lines, great imagery and rhythm also used within the lines. Cute humorous read. Indeed it does bring back memories of when the children were young and watched all those cartoons but then they were so different from the ones that we watched as children.....Nothing is ever the same from one generation to the next...Thanks for posting and sharing with us...be safe, God Bless, Claire
This Poem was Critiqued By: Lennard J. McIntosh On Date: 2004-06-19 10:44:34
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hello Karen: A poem of whimsey, in rhyme and rhythm. Well done, milady. A fellow poet, Len McIntosh
This Poem was Critiqued By: Wayne R. Leach On Date: 2004-06-18 17:44:15
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.35294
Interesting form, concise lines, direct statement, great imagery and rhythm. Overall, a cute humorous read. Thanks for creating a smile on this usually sullen face. Peace. wrl
This Poem was Critiqued By: Mark Steven Scheffer On Date: 2004-06-18 16:42:31
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.40000
Karen, Some nice moments of lyrical movement. But the end just didn't close it right for me. I'm not strictly talking sound and rhythm. You have the rhyme there, but somehow i felt it was a bit of a let down. The prior stanza was very solid, and maybe i sensed a falling off from that height. mark
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