Mary Karr is a critically acclaimed poet, memoirist, and essayist, who is an exemplar of the characteristics of a Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate serves as a liaison between the general public and the poetry community, spreading awareness and inspiring novice poets through their excellent prose. Karr’s poetry is especially accessible and distinctly American, as seen through her use simple yet meaningful vocabulary and explicitly American characteristics and techniques, making her an acutely apt candidate for the National Poet Laureate position.
Mary Karr’s extensive list of accolades and expresses her suitability as a Poet Laureate. Mary Karr was born in January of 1955, in Jefferson County Texas. Karr currently teaches English Literature …show more content…
Karr’s poems most frequently embody insularity and restlessness, making her poetry uniquely American. Karr’s ability to incorporate authentic American characteristics into her prose makes her a wonderful candidate for the Poet Laureate position. An example of her integration of American characteristics can be found in Karr’s poem “A Perfect Mess.” The speaker begins the poem, describing the symbiotic relationship between New York and its inhabitants. The reader later learns that the narrator is an onlooker, describing the beautiful disorder and striking diversity of the city. Through precise word choice and beautiful imagery the speaker of the poem entices the reader from the very beginning. By using phrases like “For a few heartbeats, the whole city stalled, / paused, a heart thump, then it all went staccato.” and “It was a scene from an unwritten opera, / the sails of some vast armada” Karr paints a vivid image in the mind of the reader (Karr, “A Perfect Mess” 18-19, 23-24). Throughout the aforementioned quotes Karr employs the use of vivid imagery, personification, and simile in order to portray a sense of restlessness, expressing the inhabitants of New York as impossible to contain or tie down. This vivid description makes the city itself seem alive, breathing as people persistently continue about their day. Additionally, the emphasis on New York highlights the insularity of Karr’s poetry. This …show more content…
While Karr often employs the use of insularity and restlessness in her poetry, she frequently uses Judeo-Christian ideals. “Descending Theology” and “All This and More” serve as a perfect example of theology within Karr’s writing. After her conversion to Catholicism, Karr frequently wrote about God and the afterlife in her poetry. This religious aspect is particularly American as the founding fathers based American society almost completely off of these principles and in addition many Americans have Judeo-Christian religious beliefs. This incorporation of yet another American characteristic expresses Karr’s versatility and highlights her ability to be Poet
Mary Karr’s extensive list of accolades and expresses her suitability as a Poet Laureate. Mary Karr was born in January of 1955, in Jefferson County Texas. Karr currently teaches English Literature …show more content…
Karr’s poems most frequently embody insularity and restlessness, making her poetry uniquely American. Karr’s ability to incorporate authentic American characteristics into her prose makes her a wonderful candidate for the Poet Laureate position. An example of her integration of American characteristics can be found in Karr’s poem “A Perfect Mess.” The speaker begins the poem, describing the symbiotic relationship between New York and its inhabitants. The reader later learns that the narrator is an onlooker, describing the beautiful disorder and striking diversity of the city. Through precise word choice and beautiful imagery the speaker of the poem entices the reader from the very beginning. By using phrases like “For a few heartbeats, the whole city stalled, / paused, a heart thump, then it all went staccato.” and “It was a scene from an unwritten opera, / the sails of some vast armada” Karr paints a vivid image in the mind of the reader (Karr, “A Perfect Mess” 18-19, 23-24). Throughout the aforementioned quotes Karr employs the use of vivid imagery, personification, and simile in order to portray a sense of restlessness, expressing the inhabitants of New York as impossible to contain or tie down. This vivid description makes the city itself seem alive, breathing as people persistently continue about their day. Additionally, the emphasis on New York highlights the insularity of Karr’s poetry. This …show more content…
While Karr often employs the use of insularity and restlessness in her poetry, she frequently uses Judeo-Christian ideals. “Descending Theology” and “All This and More” serve as a perfect example of theology within Karr’s writing. After her conversion to Catholicism, Karr frequently wrote about God and the afterlife in her poetry. This religious aspect is particularly American as the founding fathers based American society almost completely off of these principles and in addition many Americans have Judeo-Christian religious beliefs. This incorporation of yet another American characteristic expresses Karr’s versatility and highlights her ability to be Poet