Week 8, Sign Inventory

"Empty Glass" from Wildwood Flower by Kathryn Stripling Byer.

Last night I stood ringing
my empty glass under
the black empty sky and beginning, of all

things, to sing.
The mountains paid no attention.
The cruel ice did not melt.
But just for a moment the hoot owl grew silent.
And somewhere the wolves hiding out
in their dens opened, cold, sober eyes.

Here's to you
I sang, meaning
the midnight
the dark moon
the empty well,

meaning myself
upon whom the snow fell
without any apology. 

1. Action in this poem is passive.

2. The "me" and "I" speaker in the poem speaks differently at the end then the beginning.

3. Nature's reaction (or lack of) to the speaker. 

4. Enjambments are violent in comparison to the subject. 

5. The short chopped middle stanza in comparison to the fuller first two stanzas.

6. The use of adjectives are associated, but seem to create a new way to look at cliches.

7. "upon whom" are extremely passive.

8. The speaker are acted upon by other forces, but Nature is active.

9. The "you" is an interesting character.

10. Signing seems like an interesting notion in a quiet, dark setting.