The Compass

by Carl Phillips
page 586-587

I decided to blog about this poem because I found similarities to both of the poems that were presented in class, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" and "Orange In". First of all, the poem is seems to be separated in terms of an image or idea being conveyed. The stanzas/lines of the poem do not necessarily have a logical connection to each other, but most have some association of a compass, which is like the "Blackbird" poem. For example, "a star" and "a dog with torch in its mouth" do not have any logical relation to each other, but one can see how both have some relation to a compass. Both have some association with guidance, i.e. the north star and the image of a dog with a torch in his mouth gives the reader an image of man's best friend somehow leading the way in times of need through dark times, a somewhat comforting image. Throughout the poem, random objects are mentioned but somehow there is still a sense of cohesiveness. Elements of "Orange In" can also be found in this poem, which is somewhat confusing to me. For example, there is a stanza that goes "x / that one and / that one and / what stands for". The repetition of "that one and" seems to be used not to make logical sense, but perhaps used to enhance the sounds in the poem or install a sort of rhythm here. This is the only place in the poem where repetition occurs, so I am not really sure exactly what type of significance this part has. The language used in the poem was also not very continuous, it just seemed like phrases and words were put together to make an image, although it does not make sense when just read straight through. For example, "a ship's windlass for around / what the intestine pulled out into / the salt air was bound fast" does not make logical sense, but one can imagine how the idea of a compass is integrated, being used to navigate through rough waters out at sea.