Analysis of Appearances
Lawrence S. Pertillar 1947 (Connecticut)
From the outside,
Appearances can be impressive to give...
Approval and acceptance.
Yet without maintenance,
To keep kept inspected...
It's under the hood of any vehicle,
That remains unchecked to expect...
Impressions to make to stay that way,
Seems to always please...
Someone with expertise,
Like a doctor or mechanic to say...
The cost to pay to ignore,
A running out of gas.
Doesn't matter what the outside looks...
With an appearance to impress.
If too late to notice,
A stopping of a forward movement...
Occurs when there is no fuel left.
And running on fumes,
Is not only disappointing to discover.
But also the expense of the bill.
Taking longer to recover from.
Than having hindsight will.
'How many times have I told you,
What it is you must do.
To keep you from repeating,
The same results you continue to get?'
'I know, doctor.
You and my mechanic both...
Seem to not run out of patience.'
'Why should we?
Neither one of us pay your bills.
And personally?
I'm thrilled about it!'
'What a terrible thing to say to me!'
'Well...
Not that terrible to stop you,
From making repeated visits.
Is it?'
'But...
I rely upon you to tell me the truth.'
'And, I rely upon you too.
Not to disappoint me.
Now...
Would you prefer,
30.
60 or 90 days for your next appointment?'
'I will take the 60 days.
For whatever the reason,
My mechanic checks my car...
Every 90 days.
You all are nothing but crooks.
Corrupted thieves!'
'Says the kettle calling the pot black!'
'Excuse me?
What did you say?'
'I cook as well.
But I have learned to at least,
Try different recipes.
I'll see you in 60 days.
Scheme | XXAAXXXBCCBXXDXXEXXFGXG HHXX FXA IXIJ I KHXJ XX HIXFXE LXXLDX X IB KXCL |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Etheree (28%) Tetractys (22%) |
Metre | 1011 01001101011 0100010 101100 111010 11001110100 10101101 010111111 1111 1101 1010101011 0111101 010111 101010111 11010101 111110 010101010 011111101 01011 11100101010 110001101 101010101 11011 11011111 111111 1111010 0101101011 1110 1010101 11111110 111 10111111 01000 11011 1010011111 1 11100111 11001010 11 1 10101111101 01010111 11011 1 1101 1 11111010 11101 110010 1010111 1001 1111011 0101 101010011 011 1111 1111 1111111 1100100 11101 |
Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
Characters | 1,531 |
Words | 297 |
Sentences | 46 |
Stanzas | 12 |
Stanza Lengths | 23, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 2, 6, 6, 1, 2, 4 |
Lines Amount | 60 |
Letters per line (avg) | 20 |
Words per line (avg) | 5 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 99 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 24 |
Font size:
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Appearances" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/106391/appearances>.
Discuss this Lawrence S. Pertillar poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In