This is a small poetry club that started as a poetry email exchange between two friends. Our goal is to read a poem everyday, and this blog is one way to help keep us accountable. There is only one valid rule in poetry club: there are no rules in poetry club. Read any poem, in any order, with any or no interactions. You decide. We only suggest you read poetry!
I like the title and poem a lot more with a slang interpretation of the word "lame" as a pun. The beggar is lame, not impressive, as he cannot find a better excuse or explanation for his needing to beg. Unlike the many humorous images that float around of web of the signs saying something like "ninjas killed my family. need money for karate lessons." I wonder if lame had both meanings when Donne wrote this poem.
If the beggar is physically lame, as in physically unable do to age or illness, Donne just sounds like a jerk.
In our times, myself definitely included, we are very skeptical of beggars. Are they actually in need or just lazy? Or drug addicts or winos? I think mental illness is largely responsible many homeless, but I also know that begging and homelessness are not synonymous.
I like the title and poem a lot more with a slang interpretation of the word "lame" as a pun. The beggar is lame, not impressive, as he cannot find a better excuse or explanation for his needing to beg. Unlike the many humorous images that float around of web of the signs saying something like "ninjas killed my family. need money for karate lessons." I wonder if lame had both meanings when Donne wrote this poem.
ReplyDeleteIf the beggar is physically lame, as in physically unable do to age or illness, Donne just sounds like a jerk.
In our times, myself definitely included, we are very skeptical of beggars. Are they actually in need or just lazy? Or drug addicts or winos? I think mental illness is largely responsible many homeless, but I also know that begging and homelessness are not synonymous.