Ellipses
In “Prophecy”, Dana Gioia writes, “O Lord of indirection and ellipses.” The ellipses are typically applied in writing. Symbolically, the ellipses portray the Lord’s incomprehensibility. The figurative ellipses infer that the Lord is beyond the inspection of humans because they suggest that all wide-ranging information about God is not reachable.
Pity-“Pity”
In “Pity” the Dana Gioia is sympathetic towards ‘the beautiful,’ ‘pretty boys,’ the hotties, the faded, the gods, and the night among others. All the classes of items and individuals that Gioia delineate in “Pity” are representational of relatable Pathos.
The Present - “The Present”
‘The present’ epitomizes overpowering secrecy because it has not yet been unlocked by the intended beneficiary. The speaker questions, “Why needlessly unfold and bring to light/the elegant contrivances that hide/the costly secret waiting still inside?” The speaker is reluctant to unseal the gift because it would result in the uncovering of the top-secret that the correspondent incorporated in it.
Ghosts - “Haunted”
Ghosts are figurative of haunting retentions. Gioia remembrances, “I don’t believe in ghosts, he said, ‘such nonsense. But years ago I actually saw one.” He seemed quite serious, and so I asked.” The glimpse of the ghost suggests that the ghost is intent on discomfiting the person who it has appeared to. The episodes of the appearance of ghosts are idiosyncratic, but when they hypothetically befall, they distress the living.
