Poem : 'His stone' ; 3 April, 2023.

4 May, 2023
Uploaded to ChatGPT for analysis
Poem : “His stone”

Soman Ragavan : Hello. Can I post a poem of mine for analysis, please ?

ChatGPT
Hello Soman Ragavan! Of course, you can post your poem for analysis. I'll do my best to provide you with helpful feedback. Please feel free to share it with me.
 
Soman Ragavan : My poem : "His stone." Please analyse by each stanza, then give overall comments. Mention similar poems from other authors, where possible. HIS STONE

ChatGPT
Thank you for sharing your poem "His Stone" with me, Soman Ragavan. Here's my analysis of your poem stanza by stanza:

Stanza 1: The first stanza sets the scene for the poem, describing a football ground in a village where there is a crumbling brick wall and littered stones used as seats by spectators.

Stanza 2: In this stanza, you introduce a poor man from a distant village who attends the game and sits on one of the stones. The tone is casual, and it highlights how these stones are used as seats without anyone paying much attention to them.

Stanza 3: Here, you introduce the owner of the stone, who confronts the poor man for sitting on "his" stone. The language becomes more formal, and the tone shifts to one of conflict.

Stanza 4: The owner claims that the stone the man sat on is "his" and demands that he moves from it. The poor man apologizes, shocked at the idea of "owning" a stone.

Stanza 5: This stanza expresses the absurdity of the situation, comparing the concept of "reserved stones" to reserved seats and pastures for the herd. The use of expletives indicates frustration and disbelief.

Stanza 6: The owner becomes more forceful, insisting that the stone is "his" and demanding the poor man leaves. The repetition of "his stone" emphasizes his possessiveness and entitlement.

Stanza 7: The poor man recognizes that the owner has indeed reserved this stone and cannot sit anywhere he pleases. The repetition of "his stone" and "my stone" emphasizes the sense of ownership and possession.

Stanza 8: The poem ends with a reflection on the power of habit to turn people into a joke. The tone is melancholic, and the poem leaves the reader to contemplate the absurdity of the situation.

Overall, your poem "His Stone" is a commentary on the absurdity of human behavior and our tendency to attach ourselves to meaningless things. The use of repetition and contrasting tones emphasizes the conflict between the two characters and the underlying themes of ownership and entitlement. The poem reminds me of Robert Frost's "Mending Wall," which also deals with the idea of boundaries and ownership, and Langston Hughes' "I, Too," which comments on the injustice of racism and segregation.
 
Soman Ragavan : Thank you. Goodbye for now.

ChatGPT
You're welcome, Soman Ragavan! It was a pleasure to analyze your poem. If you have any more questions or would like further analysis, feel free to reach out. Goodbye for now!

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                                                  POEM :
                                                HIS STONE

In yon village, at the football ground,
Near the brick wall crumbling all around,
Lay litter'd many a stone, not even neat,
By spectators plac'd as some handy seat.

A poor fellow, from some distant village hailing,
Happen'd to attend the game yonder a-playing;
'Pon one stone simply did the man slump down :
For, 'pon these stones hardly anyone did frown.

But, ill took him for having thus sat casually,
For, shortly stood afore him a burly man,
Remonstrating with him as only an owner can :
That, where he had sat, he had sat wrongly.

"I do say unto thee, where thou hath sat
Verily be my stone, the one I did carry !"
"Oh," apologis'd the other, "so very sorry !"
Christ in heaven ! HIS stone ! Rock THAT !

Of reserv'd seats indeed have we heard,
And of reserv'd pastures for the herd;
But, these goddamn stones --- reserv'd !
Indeed by the Lord let us be preserv'd !

This is my stone ! My stone ! Hence ! Get thee gone !
Among those stones, one jolly well had he reserv'd.
The stone was his. The man couldn't be swerv'd.
His stone. And, pray, whose is that other stone ?

No, he couldn't sit just anywhere, the brave bloke :
He'd recognis'd his stone : that was where he'd sit.
This is my stone. Pray, just move a little bit.
Ah, habit, habit : thou turn'st Man into a joke....
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