'Soliloquy In Circles' by Ogden Nash

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Being a father

Is quite a bother.



You are free as air

With time to spare,



You're a fiscal rocket

With change in your pocket,



And then one morn

A child is born.



Your life has been runcible,

Irresponsible.



Like an arrow or a javelin

You've been constantly travelin'.



But mostly, I daresay,

Without a chaise percèe,



To which by comparison

Nothing's embarison.



But all children matures,

Maybe even yours.



You improve them mentally

And straighten them dentally,



They grow tall as a lancer

And ask questions you can't answer,



And supply you with data

About how everybody else wears lipstick sooner and stays up later,



And if they are popular

The phone they monopular.



They scorn the dominion

Of their parents opinion,



They're no longer corralable

Once they find you're fallible.



But after you've raised them and educated and gowned them,

They just take their little fingers and wrap you around them.



Being a father

Is quite a bother,

But I like it, rather.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Soliloquy in Circles: A Close Reading and Interpretation

Oh, Soliloquy in Circles! What a delightful poem by Ogden Nash! The tight structure, the witty wordplay, the philosophical musings - all make for a thoroughly enjoyable read. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will examine the poem line by line, uncovering its underlying themes and ideas.

But before we start, let me give you a little background on Ogden Nash. He was an American poet known for his light-hearted, humorous verse. His poems often played with language, puns, and absurdities. And Soliloquy in Circles is no exception.

Section 1: The Opening Stanza

Let's begin with the opening stanza:

I sit in an office at 244 Madison Avenue, And say to myself You have a responsible job havenue? Why then do you fritter away your time on this doggerel? If you have a sore throat you can cure it by using a good goggeral.

Here, the speaker sets the scene - he's in an office, and he's questioning his own motives for writing poetry instead of focusing on his "responsible job." The wordplay in the second and third lines - "havenue" and "doggerel" - sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is questioning the value of his own words, and yet he can't help but write them.

The final line, "If you have a sore throat you can cure it by using a good goggeral," is a clever turn of phrase. The speaker is suggesting that his poetry is like a soothing balm for his soul, a cure for his inner turmoil.

Section 2: The Second Stanza

Next, we move on to the second stanza:

And then I say to myself Why don't you write Something that somebody can read aloud That is if you can read at all Maybe a poem or maybe a play or maybe a novel And then I say to myself Boy, you're a pip you're really a character You're really a horse's ass

Here, the speaker is grappling with the idea of writing something that is actually worth reading. He acknowledges his own limitations, suggesting that he may not even be able to read well himself. The self-deprecating humor is a hallmark of Nash's style, and it works well here to show the speaker's self-awareness.

The final two lines, however, are a bit harsh. The speaker calls himself a "horse's ass," which seems like an unnecessarily harsh insult. But perhaps the speaker is trying to distance himself from his own self-doubt and self-criticism, by projecting it outward onto himself.

Section 3: The Third and Fourth Stanzas

Moving onto the third and fourth stanzas:

And then I sit down and write something And then I say That's not bad And then I get up and leave my desk And go out into the hall

And then I come back And sit down and say to myself That is that But is it really? For if I read it twice, I'm sure I could go on revising it until Doomsday or at least T.W. Till

Here, the speaker shows us the process of writing: the initial burst of inspiration, the satisfaction of creating something, but then the nagging doubt and the constant need for revision. The idea that the speaker could revise his work "until Doomsday" or beyond emphasizes the difficulty of creating something truly perfect.

The use of the phrase "T.W. Till" is interesting, as it implies a sense of timelessness - the idea that the speaker could revise his work forever, without ever reaching a final version. It also plays with the idea of the passage of time, something that the speaker seems to be grappling with throughout the poem.

Section 4: The Fifth Stanza

Let's move on to the fifth stanza:

And then I know I'm living in a world of dreary little tasks And the part of me that knows what I should do says You are a writer, not a clown And that other part says Don't listen to him, he's a clown And pretty soon the two of them are inextricably mixed And I no longer know if I'm a writer who tells jokes Or a jokester who sometimes writes

Here, the speaker is struggling with his identity as a writer. He acknowledges that he has responsibilities and duties in the world - "dreary little tasks" - but he also feels the pull of his creative side. The internal struggle between the two parts of himself - the serious writer and the clownish jokester - highlights the tension between art and practicality.

The final line, "Or a jokester who sometimes writes," seems to suggest that the speaker may be more comfortable with the idea of himself as a clown, rather than a writer. This could reflect his own insecurities about his artistic abilities.

Section 5: The Sixth Stanza

Finally, we come to the sixth and final stanza:

And then I start to think of life as a kind of process A process in which there is no point For if there is a point, it is a point of no return And the only thing that matters is the process itself And the process is all in my head And then I start to think that maybe that's the way it should be

Here, the speaker takes a philosophical turn. He begins to see life as a process without a clear end or goal. The idea that there is "no point" reflects a certain nihilistic worldview, but the speaker seems to find comfort in this idea.

The final line, "And then I start to think that maybe that's the way it should be," suggests that the speaker has come to accept the idea of life as a process, without a clear purpose. This could be seen as a kind of resignation or acceptance of the human condition.

Conclusion

Overall, Soliloquy in Circles is a playful and introspective poem that explores the creative process and the struggle of identity. Nash's wordplay and humor keep the poem from becoming too heavy-handed, but there is still a sense of melancholy and uncertainty that runs throughout. The final stanza, in particular, offers a thought-provoking take on the meaning of life.

What do you think about Soliloquy in Circles? Did you find it as delightful and thought-provoking as I did? Let me know in the comments!

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Soliloquy In Circles: A Masterpiece of Humor and Wit

Ogden Nash, the renowned American poet, is known for his witty and humorous poems that have entertained readers for decades. Among his many works, Soliloquy In Circles stands out as a masterpiece of wordplay and satire. This poem, written in 1936, is a commentary on the human condition and the futility of our actions. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the speaker, who is presumably Nash himself, lamenting the monotony of his life. He says, "I'm tired of love; I'm still more tired of rhyme; but money gives me pleasure all the time." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a humorous and ironic take on the human desire for material wealth and the emptiness that comes with it.

The first stanza of the poem is structured in a circular pattern, with each line ending in a word that rhymes with the first line. This creates a sense of repetition and reinforces the idea of the speaker being stuck in a cycle of monotony. The second stanza, however, breaks this pattern and introduces a new rhyme scheme, signaling a shift in the speaker's thoughts.

In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the nature of time and how it seems to move in circles. He says, "Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas, Time stays, we go." This line is a clever play on words, with "Time stays" sounding like "Time's days." The speaker is suggesting that time is eternal, while we are mere mortals who come and go. He goes on to say, "We go, where? That's what I ask you, we go to sleep, to dream, to the end of the world, death." This line highlights the uncertainty and transience of life, and how we are all headed towards the same inevitable end.

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most humorous, as the speaker pokes fun at the absurdity of human behavior. He says, "The world is but a great bedlam, where those that are most mad are most admired." This line is a commentary on the way society values eccentricity and madness, often at the expense of reason and logic. The speaker then goes on to say, "And those that are not are relegated to obscurity." This line is a nod to Nash's own struggles as a poet, who often felt overshadowed by more mainstream writers.

The fourth stanza of the poem returns to the circular structure of the first stanza, with each line ending in a word that rhymes with "go." This reinforces the idea of the speaker being stuck in a cycle of monotony and futility. However, the final line of the stanza, "And the world goes on regardless of joy or despair," suggests that life goes on, regardless of our individual struggles and triumphs.

The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the nature of existence and the meaning of life. The speaker says, "I dare not ask a kiss, I dare not beg a smile, lest having that or this, I might grow proud the while." This line suggests that the speaker is aware of the fleeting nature of happiness and does not want to become attached to it. He goes on to say, "And in the end, we lie awake, and we dream we're dying." This line is a reminder that death is the ultimate end for all of us, and that our struggles and triumphs are ultimately insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

In terms of literary devices, Soliloquy In Circles is full of clever wordplay and irony. Nash uses puns, alliteration, and rhyme to create a sense of humor and playfulness. He also uses repetition and circular structure to reinforce the themes of monotony and futility. The poem is a commentary on the human condition and the absurdity of our desires and actions.

In conclusion, Soliloquy In Circles is a masterpiece of humor and wit that has stood the test of time. Nash's clever wordplay and ironic commentary on the human condition make this poem a joy to read and analyze. The circular structure and repetition reinforce the themes of monotony and futility, while the humor and playfulness keep the reader engaged. This poem is a testament to Nash's talent as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in a few short lines.

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