The poem Dolor by Theodore Roethke has 13 lines. The rhythm is irregular, and I some verses there are rhymes, but also very irregular. I have also noticed that the whole poem is only made up of two long sentences peppered with adjectives and commas. I am not even sure if each verse follows a definite meter. Though I have noticed that the pattern of the first line is a bit similar to Spensers" pattern. The poem uses strong descriptive words which I think is very effective in providing the reader images and also suggesting the mood of the poem. There is also a lot of symbolism, and personification involved. Combined with desciptive words, it amplifies the feeling of the image. For example, in the first three verses: 1) I have known the inexorable sadness of pencils, 2) Neat in their boxes, dolor of pad, and paper weight 3) All the misery of manila folders and mucilage, You could clearly see the strong imagism involved.
After reading the poem for the first time, it came with no impact. I also had no idea what it meant. I didn't do any research about the author because I think it would be better if I had no idea who the persona is. For me it's like, I want to have my own "untouched" interpretation of the poem. The my first interpretation was that, the persona or the point of view comes from an employee. Probably a janitor or the supplies officer in an office. That he/she is giving some sort of a warning to people in the corporate world, not to be eaten by their work. Reminds me of the film the matrix. Gives a warning not to be controlled by outside influences and break out of the flow. I could picture the persona realized what's happening, and he is silently giving out a warning. Not that he is sad, or happy with what he is doing. I could see that he feels uncontented for the people that he is working with. The poem also reminds of the song "Ants Marching" by Dave Matthews Band". The message of the song is quite similar.
