William Shakespeare, “So Many Henries”
Shakespeare is not mentioned by name in this poem, nor is there even an equally identifying reference to Bard. The first line directs the verse to “Upstart Crow” which, thanks to the TV show, has helped spread the wealth in terms of those who recognize its relation to Shakespeare. In addition, there allusions throughout to difference works of the playwright. And, of course, the title is derived from extensive number of plays by Shakespeare with Henry in the title.
The Frog, “Paradox”
In this particular case, the character is pure metaphor. In a display of super-efficiency, Dixon boils down the collective emotional closet of the longings of the human heart into a six line comparison to a frog. Frog imagery includes leaping, plopping soggily and croaking.
Her Mother, “My Mother’s Dress”
The title says it all, though one might be confused by the appearance by name of Aunt Mary in the second line. Mary was the great aunt whose death occasioned the rarity of purchasing a brand-new dress for the speaker’s mother. Not second-hand from the thrift sales, but straight off the racks of the department store.
Fred Astaire, “Fred”
The opening line of this poem references the famous observation about Fred Astaire’s dancing partner in the movies Ginger Rogers doing everything he did—but doing so backwards and in high heels. The speaker rejects that role, insisting she wants to be Fred, not Ginger. Astaire, the tuxedoed, glossy-shoed whirling dervish who even seems to defy gravity in one of his famous solo numbers.
