DREAM OF A NEW PATRIOTISM

The poem "DREAM OF A NEW PATRIOTISM" by Matthew Rohrer seemed to really captivate my attention. The poem begins with the line "people tend to pair off, but not me." This single line represents a complete thought that I think is rather intriging. It is very true that people couple up with one another, though not everyone does. The speaker seems to be one of the people who breaks this mold by saying "but not me." This is a concept that he keeps constant throughout the entire poem. Besides the first line I was also drawn to the line that stands alone between the two stanzas of the poem. This line reads "then I awaken from my stupor." I do not think the meaning behind this line is nearly as significant as its placing. To me, it represents a turning point for the poem. Since it is placed between the two stanzeas of the poem it seems to bear a deep meaning for the poem. The speaker seems to make a clean realization; thus "I awaken from my stupor." Overall, I am a little confused by the poem's meaning. I really agree with the first stanza because the thought and direction seems to be clear. Though the second stanza seems to be a little less directed. I do like the overall meaning that the poem represents: some people do tend to beleive that they are alone even though the really aren't, but I think the poem is a little loose and the end and the meaning falls behind.

Katy Haines