Red Shift

In the poem “Red Shift”, the author Ted Berrigan suggests that life can move really fast in the beginning of life, slows down in the middle and shift quickly at the end of life. He demonstrates these techniques by using personification, Imagery, and great tone. The poem is about how life moves within a blink of an eye, and to enjoy every second of your life because you will not get that second back.
The First section of the poem begins with winter and it is “8:08 p.m.” This could be how he is feeling about himself. Then he talks about “Allen, Frank, or me,” these are the people that he looks up to including himself because he but himself in the pattern. He portrays an image of an alcoholic when he was sipping on “Calvados.” This phrase represents how he feels like a he is a cold hearted and dark. This may lead into excessive drinking and this can be followed up by feeling alone.
The Second section shows us that people around him have “love, children, hundreds of them, money, marriage-ethics, a politics of grace,” maybe these are the things that he is missing in his life. He shows that he wants a soul mate but he might be used due to his talent of writing. When people are rich it’s hard to find love because what might think they love one other but they can turn around and stab one in the back. He describe that he can be faithful by saying “I would never and never will leave, not for sex, nor politics or even for stupid permanent estrangement.” He wants someone to not use him but to love and to die with him.
The Third Section is about the end of life. He question “when will I die,” meaning he is suffering through an obstacles that he wants out. Then once he dies His kind of show this person is getting to know or love will always be in his heart and soul even if he is “pronouns.” This is the end of his journey and is feels “Alone, crowded, unhappy fate, nevertheless I slip softly into the air. This I can connect to when my grandmother was on her soon to be known “death bed,” he was alone and everyone crowded around her to give her kisses and say our goodbyes. Then she “slip softly into the air.” This shows that it is the end of life and journey.
Ted Berrigan shows intricate pieces that are so well written that connecting to him is easy. He demonstrates that life is so fast pace. He can also make us imagine what he is doing while reading the text. He tries to portray a very important message, it is to live happily.