Link: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/detail/50787 In “Ode to Big Trend”, Hayes speaks about Big Trend, an apparently staggering man who could “tear a Bible in two” (lines 10-11) with his bare hands. The narrator notices that the other black labourers of the community are growing impatient--they want to get paid. The narrator’s friend, Big Trend, is especially avid (In line 4, he compares Trend’s expression to the one “your daddy gets before he whups you”). As noted in the fourth stanza, Big Trend’s “ox-like” appearance, when paired with the he prospect of wages, makes it seem as though he cares only for money. However, the narrator, his partner, knows that this is not the case; he has seen Big Trend browsing a used bookstore, and has heard him recite poems. Nonetheless, the narrator states that at the end of the week, Big Trend is the one others asked to speak to the boss (who had withheld their wages). This implies that although Big Trend has a “soft side,” he is still the dominant “muscle” of the community, and will do what he must to ensure he gets paid. Upon reading the first two stanzas of the poem, I immediately developed a preconceived notion on what the poem was about (which is, of course, problematic…). I imagined that the poem would focus on how Big Trend would perhaps--with brute strength--coerce someone (his boss) to give him the money he and his partner was owed. However, by the fourth and fifth stanzas, I realized that Big Trend fits the “Bruiser with a Soft Center” archetype. His features may be daunting, and he certainly uses these features to get things done, but he indulges in literature and poetry behind closed doors. I wonder why Trend chooses to hide his part of him. To me, he obviously finds solace in poetry and reading, but continues to hide behind the façade of a “tough guy,” who willingly accepts the negative opinions of others (regarding his attention to monetary gains). I think Hayes’ choice of dividing the poem into 2-3 line stanzas (utilizing enjambment/incomplete syntax) serves to slightly stagger the poem’s text. Additionally, Hayes uses a significant amount of consonance in “Ode to Big Trend”: for example, line 1 ends with “paid” and line 2 ends in “said;” line 10 ends with “tear” and line 11 ends with “hear.” In all honesty, I am unsure why he chose to utilize consonance, instead of choosing to write free verse poetry (or choosing to rhyme the poem). Perhaps it was unintentional (though, probably not)? "Ode to Big Trend" is yet another masterpiece, and Hayes' poems continue to blow me away. This time, Hayes creates a made-up world (with real societal implications) that teeters back and forth between one reality and another--one which focuses on Big Trend’s outward appearance, versus one which focuses on Big Trend’s love of poetry. His word choice and syntax (or incomplete use thereof) seem to establish an unsettled mood; if he had used complete syntax, I believe it would have taken away from the bitterness of the poem’s setting, whilst explaining Big Trend’s “double life”.
3 Comments
Cassie
12/5/2016 06:35:15 am
I loved your analysis of this poem and how you included the "Bruiser with a Soft Center" archetype. I find it so interesting how Big Trend is perceived to be the tough guy due to his outward appearance, but is really a sensitive man who loves poetry and literature. I also wonder why he hides his softer side. Maybe he thinks it's easier to be seen as a tough, strong guy rather than a sensitive one? Whatever the reason, I find the idea incredibly interesting. Great job!
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Kerston K from WV
12/9/2016 07:42:08 am
First off, I love how you included a picture of a pitbull because I love dogs. I also like how you gave us an example of a "Bruiser with a Soft Center," visuals help me understand things better so thank you! Great analysis!
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