Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Do It Yrself" by Larry Eigner presents a snapshot of suburban life, capturing both its mundanity and its peculiarities. The poem uses Eigner’s typical sparse style to highlight the contrast between human activities and environmental conditions, alongside a commentary on personal growth and cultural idiosyncrasies.

The poem begins with a statement that situates us in a distinctly suburban setting: "Now they have two cars to clean." This immediately introduces the theme of material abundance and the routine upkeep that characterizes suburban life. The follow-up, "the front and back lawns bloom in the drought," juxtaposes this upkeep with the irony of flourishing lawns during a drought, suggesting a manipulation of nature to maintain an aesthetic standard, regardless of environmental conditions.

The line "why not turn the other radio on the / pious hopes of the Red Sox" shifts the focus to another element of daily life—the background noise of a radio and the communal hopes tied to a local baseball team. This can be seen as a reflection on local identity and the shared aspirations and disappointments of sports fandom, which often serve as a backdrop to everyday life.

"Yes, that’s a real gangling kid coming down the street he’ll grow up he’ll fill out" observes the growth of an individual, likely a neighborhood child, seen from the perspective of an onlooker who predicts his maturation and physical filling out. This line captures the universal process of growing up, infused with a sense of community awareness or perhaps nostalgia for the simplicity and inevitability of growing up.

The mention of "sponges with handles" might be read as a nod to the conveniences or gadgets that populate and somewhat simplify modern life, possibly critiquing how even the most mundane tasks are commercialized or made 'easier' through innovation.

Finally, "we got trinaural hearing - they are taller than their cars" could be a humorous or absurdist reflection on human capabilities and perceptions. "Trinaural hearing" suggests an enhanced, perhaps exaggerated sensory capacity, playing on the idea of being acutely aware or sensitive to one's surroundings. The observation that "they are taller than their cars" serves as a grounding remark, bringing back a human element to the forefront amidst the discussion of material and technological concerns.

Overall, "Do It Yrself" explores elements of suburban culture, environmental manipulation, personal growth, and communal identity with a touch of whimsy and critique. Eigner’s poem invites us to consider the ordinary aspects of daily life through a lens that both magnifies and questions their significance and impact.

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