Comparing Alicia Ostriker's 'Bike Ride With Older Boys'

The poem “America the Beautiful” by Alicia Ostriker better expresses the tone of contrition and the theme of loss of innocence over Laura Kasischke’s poem “Bike Ride with Older Boys”. Both poems give their metaphorical comparisons to what losing their innocence was like. Ostiker has the comparison that innocence was holding her hand over her heart in first grade, pledging her allegiance to the flag. Kasischke’s comparison is hollow as she describes a moment she didn’t actually lose her innocence but when she could've lost her innocence. Ostiker’s poem is more relatable because it’s an event of loss of innocence that every American child one day goes through. The way the world is perceived often changes as you lose innocence, Ostiker’s poem strongly represents this concept, while Kasischke’s poem barely briefs it.

The authors look at innocence as if it is a deceased cherished friend whom they’ll never see again. Ostiker speaks with a contritious tone in her writing when stating “Sometimes I still put my hand tenderly on my heart… Somehow or other still carried away by America” (Ostiker). Ostiker makes you feel her emotions in her writing, while in my opinion Kasischke just confuses you. Kasischke’s writing almost comes off as monotone and without passion. In “Bike Ride with Older boys” Kasischke doesn’t back up the theme of her poem and further confuses the audience when writing, “I’m not as dumb as they think I am… But neither am I wise” (Kasischke). Kasischke can’t represent the tone of contrition as she has no clear tone in the first place. She also will struggle to express contrition if she did not have a real experience to look back on. Ostiker’s poem clearly defines a tone of contrition while Kasischke struggles to even have a