Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 2015

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Form & Meter

Written in an open style without a specific meter and rhyme, “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” is made up of 281 lines divided into 16 stanzas. The line lengths vary as do the stanza length. The lines are often enjambed, or a break in the thought of a line without any punctuation, flowing quickly from one line to the next to continue Gay’s effusive thoughts. Gay told Breakwater Review that his intention with the poem was to create “the feeling of a thing falling from my mind or mouth. You know, making a poem that seems kind of like how the mind works, veering and tripping and backing up and falling” (Sykora, Bob. “Interview with Ross Gay,” Breakwater, 2016). Each stanza generally centers on a subject or linked subjects but often refers to earlier images in the poem (or earlier poems that appear in Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, the collection). As indicated by Gay’s intention, the stanzas are linked by the association either of a word and/or phrase, or the repeated use of an image. For example, the sixth stanza ends with “the flock of geese overhead” (Line 125) while the seventh begins with “the quick and gentle flocking / of men” (Line 126-127). In this way, Gay connects the “men [helping] the old lady falling down” (Line 127) with a protective group of birds like “geese” (Line 125).

Direct Address to the Reader

One of the techniques Gay uses to his advantage is directly addressing the audience in stanzas five (Lines 98-107), nine (Lines 160-171), and 15 (Lines 264-269). The danger of an extensive autobiographical poem, according to some, is its selfishness. To mitigate this, Gay involves the “dear reader” (Line 104) by including them in his thankfulness. Symbolically, Gay makes the audience his “dear friend” (Line 264) and offers a place on “the corduroy couch” (Line 99) with a “light blanket” (Line 100) and “a pillow” (Line 101). He gives a “cup of tea” (Line 107) and, later in the poem, a “bowl of blackberries […] I picked just for you” (Lines 170-172). The listener is called “dear one” (Line 101) and told Gay “want[s] us to be friends now, forever” (Line 169). He lets us know he desires to connect with us. Further, Gay acknowledges any potential impatience the reader might experience and lauds them “for staying here with me” (Line 105), for “remain[ing] awake” (Line 162), and for “holding tight” (Line 264). He knows he “can be long-winded” (Line 265). This helps the audience stay focused during the long poem because we’re engaged in what he tells us is “true kindness” (Line 264). By using this technique, the poet shows he isn’t preaching at us;; he’s involving us in the prayer.

Polysyndeton

Gay uses a device called polysyndeton to great effect in “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude.” Polysyndeton is a technique where a writer uses the repetition of coordinating conjunctions (small words like “yet” and “but”) in close succession. It is a technique that can be used to enhance an overwhelming emotion and generally amplifies either a sad or joyous mood. It can give the feeling of breathlessness or excitement as well as imply endless proportion. As Gay’s discussion of joy at earthly things crescendos, he increases his use of polysyndeton with the word “and”:

thank you zinnia, and gooseberry, rudbeckia

and pawpaw, Ashmead’s kernel, cockscomb

and scarlet runner, feverfew and lemonbalm;

thank you knitbone and sweetgrass and sunchoke

and false indigo whose petals stammered apart

by bumblebees good lord please give me a minute...

and moonglow and catkin and crookneck

and painted tongue and seedpod and johnny jump-up

(Lines 223-230)

This enhances his theme of the endless fruits of the earth. There are so many but he keeps thinking of additional ones. It shows his breathless excitement at renumerating all he has to be thankful for.