Hotel Room 12th Floor

“This morning” and “from here”

Specific places and times - creates a sense of realism and immediacy. Themes of the poems are current and need to be discussed now.

“skirting like a damaged insect”

Simile - comparison to an insect. Small, insignificant, annoying. “Damaged” - poor imitation of nature. Modern technology/wealth not as good as it may seem.

“jumbo size dentist’s drill”

Lighthearted tone. What use is a building of this size? Also criticising how it looks. Criticises the American view that bigger is better. Connotations of pain and suffering. Could suggest that some people are disadvantaged/left behind by modern progress.

“But now”

Turning point. Day to night. Tone changes and becomes more sombre.

“midnight” and “foreign places” and “uncivilised”

Metaphor for evil, chaos and violence. America in conflict with what is perceives as nonnative or barbaric.

“darkness is shot at by a million lit windows,”

Metaphor alluding to America’s history with guns, the Wild West etc. Darkness (violence, crime, fear, etc) at war with light (life, knowledge, etc). Humanity’s technological progress is not enough to withstand the darkness.

“But midnight is not so easily defeated.”

Continuation of the idea of an enduring battle between light and darkness.

“I lie in bed, between a radio and a television set,”

Surrounded by technology in a threatening way or he is using these to drown out the sounds of violence.

“the wildest of warwhoops” and “ululating”

Onomatopoeia. Sounds of police and ambulance sirens compared to the noises of native Americans.

“glittering canyons and gulches”

Contrast with the natural landscape of the west which would be barren and bleak. “Glittering” because of wealth and technology and tall buildings turn the cities into canyons”

“broken bones” and “harsh screaming” and “blood glazed”

Synecdoche. People reduced to body parts, noises and spilled blood to show the impact of violence and how little value is on human life.

“coldwater flats”

Less luxurious more primitive flats. Technology doesn’t benefit everyone. Some are more disadvantaged. Contrasts to the impressive skyscrapers.

“The frontier”

Wild West. A border between civilised and uncivilised. Suggests that uncivilised acts are part of every culture and society. What we see as uncivilised is always a part of us.

“no stockades can keep the midnight out”

No matter how sophisticated and civilised society gets, it will always be impacted by uncivilised basic human instincts.