Marie

Marie Lilly
 * “The Poet Trying to Surprise God” **
 * The Unsurprised Can Be Surprising **

When I first read the poem “The Poet, Trying to Surprise God,” by Peter Meinke, I was unsure what the author meant to convey. Nevertheless, after considering many possibilities, I have decided that the poet is trying to argue that God is all powerful and all knowing, therefore cannot be surprised, but that he can be surprising in his sympathy and kindness.

At first, the poem is relatively self explanatory. However, there is a twist at the end that could be interpreted in many different ways. The title “The poet, Trying to Surprise God” basically sums up the first part of the poem. It is about a poet, who is trying to surprise God. The poet attempts to be creative and in a sense, out smart God. This is exemplified when it says that the poet “…composed new forms from secret harmonies, / tore from his fiery vision galaxies/ of unrelated shapes, both even & odd.” (Lines 2-4). But God cannot be outsmarted by the poet’s creations, since the poet is one of God’s creations as God created everything. In saying “so hold this thought beneath your poet bonnet…” (Line 9) God is further acknowledging that the poet has a lower status and then tells him that “God is by definition unsurprised.” (Line 11).

The poem then states “‘Then I’ll return,’ the poet sighed, ‘to sonnets/ of which this is a rather pale example.’” (Lines 12-13), thus implying that the poet has finally conceded that God is all powerful and has given up on his attempt to surprise God. But God spices things up in the last line by claiming that the poet’s choice to give up came as a surprise. He says “‘Is that right?’ said God. ‘I hadn’t realized…’” (Line 14). This sentence could be interpreted in many different ways. It could mean that God is mocking the poet. It could also mean that he is genuinely surprised; which would contradict the entire sonnet. I would consider this to mean that God is trying to comfort the poet by using humorous kindness. It is humorous because God has just said that he cannot be surprised, so therefore he must be joking in this last line. However, this also illustrates God’s kindness because He is presenting the poet with something to mediate upon and perhaps inspire him in his writing.

In some cases, the structure of a poem is not important. In “The Poet Trying to Surprise God,” the structure is very important. This poem follows the pattern of a Petrarchan sonnet. It has fourteen lines, is written in iambic pentameter, and follows the ABBA, ABBA, CDECDE rhyme scheme. The poem presents the argument that the poet is trying to surprise God even though God cannot be surprised. But in the twelfth line there is a turn when the poet changes directions decides to give up and return to writing sonnets. Then in the last line, there is a turn when it states “‘Is that right?’ said God. ‘I hadn’t realized…’” (Line 14) and God is portrayed as acting surprised. Usually in a Petrarchan sonnet the turn occurs between the eighth and ninth lines. Yet in this poem, it does not. The author follows a basic and uncreative structure until the end of the poem. This presents the idea that while the author is trying to be creative with his thoughts, he is really following a common structure. But then when he gives up, he is being different that normal, so the structure is also different than a normal Petrarchal sonnet. God presents himself as being surprised which is also unexpected.

In conclusion, at a first glace the poem “The Poet Trying to Surprise God” is confusing in that it claims that God cannot be surprised, but then goes on to portray God as being surprised. However, this poem is meant to convey a deeper meaning; God cannot be surprised, but he himself is surprising. God also helps out the poet with his unexpected twist at the end to make sure that the sonnet is not a “pale example” as the poet thought it would be. This idea is of unexpected surprise is emphasized by the structure of the sonnet which seems normal at first, but then is proven not to be.