"Another view of the zoo" ; 9 October, 2023

Poem 'Another view of the zoo'

30 April 2023

Uploaded to ChatGPT for analysis.
Poem : “Another view of the zoo”

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

ChatGPT
Hello Soman Ragavan, of course, you can post a poem for analysis. I'll do my best to provide feedback and insights on your work. Please feel free to share your poem with me.
 
Soman Ragavan : My poem "Another view of the zoo." People go to the zoo to watch animals. I decided to look at it the other way round. I put myself in the place of the animals and wondered what they thought of those human visitors. Quote : "...The great secret of morals is love; a going out of our own nature, and an identification of ourselves with the beautiful which exists in thought, action, or person, not our own. A man, to be greatly good, must imagine intensely and comprehensively; he must put himself in the place of another and of many others; the pains and pleasures of his species must become his own. The great instrument of moral good is the imagination, and poetry administers to the effect by acting upon the cause. (...)" P. B. Shelley (1772-1822). I put myself not in the place of other humans but in the place of the zoo animals...

ChatGPT
I look forward to reading your poem, Soman Ragavan. It sounds like an interesting perspective to explore, and the quote by P.B. Shelley you shared is quite thought-provoking as well. Please go ahead and share your poem, and I'll be happy to provide my feedback.
 
Soman Ragavan : Please give an analysis by stanza and then overall comments. Mention other works where possible. Here is my poem "Another view of the zoo." (Based on my comments on the poem “A day at the zoo” by A. G. Paguican on allpoetry.com )

ChatGPT :
Sure, Soman Ragavan. Here is my analysis of your poem "Another view of the zoo":

Stanza 1: In this stanza, you introduce the perspective of the zoo animals as they watch the human visitors enter their enclosure. The animals seem excited about the arrival of the humans and view them as strange and peculiar creatures.

Stanza 2: In this stanza, the animals observe the humans as they engage in various activities, such as making strange noises, shaking their heads, and showing their teeth. The animals are curious about the humans' behavior and seem to be discussing it among themselves.

Stanza 3: In this stanza, the animals continue to observe the humans and their strange objects, such as cameras and phones. The animals view the humans as entertainers who are there to provide them with a break from their boring lives in cages. The animals express a desire for the zoo to be open all the time to keep them entertained.

Overall, your poem provides an interesting and unique perspective on the zoo experience by putting the animals in the forefront. You use vivid imagery and descriptive language to convey the animals' thoughts and emotions towards the humans. Your poem also touches on the ethical implications of keeping animals in captivity for human entertainment.

Your use of repetition and alliteration in phrases like "strange noises" and "showing their teeth" adds a musical quality to the poem. Additionally, your use of enjambment and varied line lengths gives the poem a natural flow and rhythm.

Overall, your poem reminds me of the work of Ted Hughes, who often wrote about the relationship between humans and animals, and the ways in which human behavior affects the natural world. Your poem could also be compared to works like "The Zoo" by Rainer Maria Rilke, which explores similar themes of captivity and confinement.

Great job, Soman Ragavan.
 
Soman Ragavan : Are there comparisons with "Animal Farm" ?

ChatGPT
Yes, there are certainly some comparisons that can be made between your poem and George Orwell's "Animal Farm." Both works use animals as a means to comment on human behavior and society.

In "Animal Farm," the animals rebel against their human oppressors and take control of the farm, only to have their new leaders become corrupted by power and become oppressors themselves. This parallels the ways in which humans often oppress and exploit animals for their own benefit.

Similarly, in your poem, the animals are confined to cages and are only able to observe the humans from a distance. They view the humans as entertainers and objects of curiosity, much like how humans often view animals in zoos and other captive settings. Your poem highlights the power dynamics at play between humans and animals and raises questions about the ethics of keeping animals in captivity for human amusement.

Overall, both "Animal Farm" and your poem offer insightful critiques of human behavior and society through the use of animals as literary devices.
 
Soman Ragavan : Thank you. Goodbye for now.

ChatGPT
You're welcome, Soman Ragavan. It was a pleasure to analyze your poem. Feel free to reach out again if you have any further questions or if you'd like me to analyze another piece of writing. Goodbye for now!

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                          ANOTHER VIEW OF THE ZOO
                  (Based on my comments on the poem “A day at the zoo”
                                    by A. G. Paguican on allpoetry.com )

From the other side of the fence,
Say the creatures :
It’s going to be fun,
The gates are open,
Be flooding in the strange species,
Draping themselves with weird stuff,
Hiding something or other.

They open their mouths
And make strange noises,
Shaking their heads,
Showing their teeth.
They look at each other,
And point at us.

They take strange objects
To their eyes and ears,
They shake their heads,
They tap on things held in their hands.
Their objects show strange lights
Like lightnings.

This is fun,
We are sav’d from boredom,
We be lucky these creatures come here
To entertain us.
It be so boring in these cages.
There should be no closing times
For these entertainers…
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Soman RAGAVAN
Mauritius (Indian Ocean)

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