Picketing Supermarkets Tom Wayman example essay topic

In the poem Picketing Supermarkets, the author, Tom Wayman, attempts on showing his readers the extent at which nature has been taken granted for. He does this by using supermarkets to point out that the peoples' attitude is postulated towards the goods found in the stores. The author uses the following elements: (from the English Elements of Cognitive Design) rhetoric, connotation, and perspective to emphasize his ideas. The first example of rhetoric can be noted within the title itself, which proves to be quite contradictory towards the attitude and mood of the poem.

At first glance, the title "Picketing Supermarkets" gives the readers the impression that the following poem is quite political and discusses the reasoning behind banning supermarkets. Although this opinion may prove to be authentic, if the poem would be read as is and left un analyzed it would seem that in-fact, Wayman wrote the poem in favor of the supermarkets. After reading the poem, the reader is baffled; How is it that the title of the poem suggests that supermarkets should be banned, while the poem itself is written in the perspective and favor of the supermarkets? With the combination of rhetoric and perspective the poem is written in a sarcastic fashion to show just how absurd the "pro-super marketers" opinions are.

"Cabbages, broccoli and tomatoes / are raised at night in the aisles. Milk is brewed in the near storage areas. Beef produced in vats in the basement". (Lines: 3 - 6) These are the few, but excellent examples that Wayman uses to show the inanity in supermarkets' arguments. All of these quotes prove how disarranged the knowledge of most customers' is and how they are taking advantage of the abundance of food. Likewise, the second example in which Wayman shows how nature is taken for granted, is a mixture of connotation and rhetoric.

"Do not take the leaflet". (Lines: 2, 7 and 13) It is ironic the author would use the word "leaflet" when referring to pamphlets or flyers, as these "leaflets" belong to the environmentalist who have realized the conspiracy behind supermarkets. Although the actual definition of a leaflet would simply state that it is a flyer of some sort, there is a lot more behind the word than meets the odd. Leaflet gives the reader the impressions of nature, deriving from its base word of leaf; and single or a few bundles of leaves is but a weak and pitiful stand point from mother nature's part to convince the man in his world of technology, how it is being abused and unaccredited for. The third and final proof of nature's fall lies in the complete third stanza of the poem.

Throughout the third stanza, comparisons between nature's farms and supermarkets are made. "The sound here is Muzak, for your enjoyment. Its is not the sound of children crying. There is a lady offering samples / to mark Canada Cheese Month. There is no dark-skinned man with black hair beside her / wanting to show you the inside of a coffin.

And there are no Nicaraguan heroes / in any way connected with bananas". (Lines: 20 - 28) Now the author makes comparisons between the urban and rural world, sarcastically though. Technology is hailed and the urban world is glorified. Farms are mocked and insulted openly.

Wayman shows the true mentality of his fellow citizens when he refers to the manager as a citizen of the city after the escafey of insults. This means that in Wayman's opinion, most people in the world look down at the rural life, the lifestyle closest to that of Mother Nature's itself. Citizens are ignorant to the fact that their existence comes from Mother Nature and without it, they are helpless. In conclusion, Tom Wayman uses several design elements to show his readers the ignorance most people have towards nature.

His sarcastic style of writing is a powerful tool in showing both sides, the rural and urban lifestyles of humans.