The Themes In Meinke, The Cranes, By Peter Meiinke

First and foremost, a poet, Peter Meinke has a very unique and interesting style to his literary works. As a modern writer he is easier to relate to and his writing features themes and details more easily talked about now, than in previous eras. His short stories flow in a mildly ambiguous and poetic fashion. Much like most writers he seems to have a similar area of interest when it comes to his writings which happens to lie very close to the morbid side. Of the two short stories that have been selected both have endings to make someone think and both leave a large area for different interpretations as to the fate of the characters.

In an interview for Clockwatch Review, Peter Meinke says he thinks, “…poetry and short stories are more alike …show more content…
Throughout the story Meinke gives clues as to the dark ending that awaits his readers, the death of the couple. The clues he leaves are, “the shower curtain” (192), “[the] object wrapped in a plaid towel” (193) and the mention of him needing something for his ears (194). They are talking throughout trying their best to keep calm, when finally, “[the wife] closed her eyes and only smiled” (194), all of these only vague clues, allow room for interpretation and controversy. Throughout this story there is no real feeling that something may happen or that there is about to be a major plot twist at the end. After reading this story, readers must, in order to fully grasp what has happened, read it again and look for the minor details that allow the ending to make sense. This short story is sweet and romantic while still remaining dark and ambiguous. In his short story, The Piano Man, there is a feeling from the start that something may happen; unlike The Cranes, this story has a much more ominous tone and feeling. The piano man himself is a large, intimidating black man who is not trusted. He is careless of the flowers his wife planted and of their Persian rugs in their home. Throughout the story suspense grows and the husband becomes increasingly more panicked as to why his wife is not home yet. After quite a long time when he attempts to throw out the piano man he gets very aggressive and rude, locking him in his office. It is then after a long time, over the radio and the piano man playing that he hears his wife, “’oh,’ she was saying...’Oh, my God…Oh! Oh!’” (Meinke, 74). The implication being that he is raping her and he is helpless to stop it. Earlier on the piano man mentions his experience with, “…[the] babes” downtown, a strong implication that he has very little respect for women and they are nothing but objects for using (Meinke, 71). This story