Incandescent War Poem Sonnet by Bernadette Mayer Quiz

Poem Analysis

• The poem is titled "Incandescent War Poem Sonnet" and written by Bernadette Mayer.
• The speaker expresses their desire to sail, but not in the US Navy, implying a sense of nonconformity.
• The poem is written in a non-traditional sonnet structure, with irregular rhymes and meter.
• The speaker is waiting for a letter from a loved one, and simultaneously considering a letter from someone else.
• The poem references the chambered nautilus, a symbol of beauty and fragility.
• The speaker describes a scene in the park, where they saw the loved one, and notes that it's not in rhyme, despite being a sonnet.
• The speaker addresses the loved one, complimenting their appearance and hair, and asks if love is king.
• The poem subverts traditional sonnet expectations, with the speaker acknowledging that it's not a traditional sonnet.
• The poem references Shakespeare, implying that the speaker is aware of traditional sonnet structures and conventions.
• The final lines of the poem mention artificial light and the necessity of getting young Americans ice cream, adding a sense of surrealism and playfulness.