Gregg Shapiro's Poetry Analysis

Gregg Shapiro’s poems are unique in their ability to captivate the reader by providing a detailed narrative of particular events in his life. He includes stories of himself when he was a college dropout trying to find his direction in life. From his poems “’71”, “How to Flirt”, and “The Indignities”, it quickly becomes apparent that Shapiro’s style is a combination of storytelling with some humor. When reading his poems, it is not surprising when I find myself chuckling frequently. In addition to this, his writing is so clear and concise, that his poetry can be interpreted easily. This in particular is what separates Shapiro’s writing from most other poets’. Of the poems read in class, “’71” is the best example of Shapiro’s stellar narrative

All throughout the poem, Shapiro refers to himself as “you”, which creates for a relatable experience. An example is Shapiro’s retelling of his mother’s agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that countless individuals suffered from, but were not able to receive treatment due to the lack of knowledge regarding the disorder during the 1970’s. Shapiro writes: “Before there was a name for your mother’s agoraphobia, she blamed / it on chocolate.” He continues by expressing how he learned to deal with his mother’s anxiety in a period when few people understood this disorder. Along with his distinctive use of imagery in the final stanza, Shapiro’s storytelling makes “’71” one of my favorite poems read in class. In “How to Flirt”, Shapiro touches on the subject of relationships by writing about an individual he is interested in. In great detail, Shapiro shares his infatuation with a person who is not even aware of his existence. Additionally, Shapiro provides some advice when dealing with such feelings. These qualities, along with clever wordplay, allow for a poem that is entertaining to read. Lines like “Avoid singing or humming ‘Que Sera / Sera’ like a cheating ex. Otherwise ‘whatever / will be’ won’t be” are particularly