Song of Reasons

What is the author's style in Song of Reasons by Robert Pinsky?

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Song of Reasons covers a wide range of topics, from Italian music, French history, and Judaism, to TV stars, a child reading the newspaper, and a city street. Knowing only that, one could assume the poem must ramble incoherently, and, even after reading it, some would say that that is a valid assumption. But the meaning of the word "discursive" plays an important role in the poem's style, for Pinsky uses analytical reasoning and a careful blending of diverse subjects to reach a unified conclusion. Rambling, yes, but with a purpose. The movement from seeming incoherence into reasonable development is accompanied by the movement into poetic lyricism, as well. The topic first appears fairly objective with an account of historical events and comments on the irony of religion and the features of remote television and magazine personalities. But when Pinsky states, "A child has learned to read," the poem becomes more subjective and expressive of his personal take on events—whether those events are as close by as his daughter's daily routine or as distant as the Dukes of Levis-Mirepoix.

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Song of Reasons