Steve Kowit's "The Grammar Lesson" flawlessly paints the impossibility of the english language. We learn foundational grammar rules to only have them destroyed in the continuation of our education. Grammar seems like a faulty, damaging circle of lies if you ask me. However, it would be challenging to teach a first grader the difference between to, two, and too or maybe plough and plow, or how about who and whom? Regardless, english grammar contradicts itself repeatedly. Steve Kowit presents a "simple" set of rules you only have to memorize. Kowit lacks to mention that for every rule there are 100 exceptions. Make sure to memorize those too.
After reading the poem several times, my head spinning, the grammar lesson being taught was almost impossible to interpret.
The poem begins with an oversimplified definition.
"A noun's a thing. A verb's the thing it does."
This line repeats throughout the poem, drilling into the audience's head meaningless words unsuccessfully defining a noun and a verb. When you think you understand, the nouns and verbs become interchangeable.
"A can can roll - or not"
Along with his dizzy language, Kowit purposefully uses poetic techniques like assonance and alliteration. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. While alliteration is the repetition of words with the same beginning consonant.
"is filled with"
"filled with purple fuzz"
Steve Kowit's rambling, repeating poem felt like the carnival's spinning cups that should have ended when the first kid puked his digested cotton candy. Overall, the poem was entertaining and nonsensical in the same way we use language.
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