Dog Fight Poem

In “Dog Fight,” by Charles Bukowski, the speaker uses thrilling diction throughout the poem; the speaker’s choice of diction has a significant effect on the reading of the poem because it dramatically increases the pace throughout its entirety. The poem’s tempo immediately accelerates as the speaker states: “[H]e draws up against my rear bumper in the fast lane” (1). This diction helps the reader relate to the situation because it is not only a situation most drivers have experienced but also a situation that angers many drivers. Later on, the speaker gives the reader a clue to the upbeat in tempo when “he ups it 5 mph” (8). This increase of speed is not only for the driver but for the poem itself. The tempo increases “5 mph” as the race becomes

In the beginning, the speaker watches in the mirror the tailgater as “his eyes / are blue and he sucks upon a dead cigar” (2-3). The speaker is already angry that “blue eyes” is practically on his bumper, but to make matters worse, he has a cigar, which is usually a symbol of wealth and power. This clearly angers the speaker as he “light[s] a cigarette” in retaliation (7). The speaker attempts to match blue eyes but he only has a cigarette. This scene represents the desire for people in the middle class to reach the status of the upper class. Because the speaker cannot match him with a cigar (a loaded Freudian symbol), he chooses to prove his power with his driving skills and speed. While they race across Los Angeles, another car joins in. The speaker states: “I flash by inside of him and the / Mercedes” (23-24). The Mercedes is a symbol of wealth and power because it is a luxurious, expensive car most people would desire to have. This furthers the determination for the speaker to beat his opponents because he wants to prove that he is better, even though he doesn’t have the luxurious items of the wealthy. However, “the / Mercedes and blue eyes run the yellow into the red” to keep up with the speaker (24-25). These drivers refuse to allow someone who they consider below them

As the speaker drives, he notices someone “up against [his] rear bumper in the fast lane (1). The speaker must move out of the way or drive even faster than he already was so this other driver will get off his tail. The other driver wants to go faster, and on the road, speed is power. The speaker then watches as “he sucks upon a dead cigar” (3). In Freudian terms, a cigar in dreams symbolized the male genitals. With a Freudian take here, blue eyes smokes a cigar not only to show off his wealth but his masculinity as well. This completely angers the speaker since he now must prove his own masculinity to this man. The two begin their battle as each one attempts to prove who really is the better man. For a response to this challenge, the speaker “light[s] a cigarette” (7). Although the cigarette may not represent the wealth or the same degree of masculinity, the speaker shows he will prove it with his ability to compete and hopefully win the race. While they drive, the speaker states: “I hit the blinker and fire across 3 lines of / traffic” (13-14). Now fully enraged, the speaker attempts bold acts on the road to defeat blue eyes. Moreover, he wants to push past this goal and establish himself as the alpha dog over blue eyes. As the two race, the Mercedes joins in. The speaker declares: