Sidewalk End Metaphors

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The poems “Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “Escaping Reality” were composed four decades apart. They involve a speaker who is anticipating his escape from reality. They involve a speaker’s search for a resolution through symbolism. They also involve a speaker who has lost his imagination. In addition, they focus on a single theme which is, despite your responsibilities in life, you should use your imagination to escape reality when times get difficult. Furthermore, they feature the thoughts of a speaker who refers to himself in the first person perspective. The two poems emphasize a resolution by using symbolism; however, in the poem “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” the speaker is more successful with portraying the symbol because of his effective …show more content…
On the other hand, Watts’s speaker does not feel the need to paint a picture with his words since he is providing insight on his emotions. In other words, Watts’s speaker intentionally wants to use pathos to elicit an emotional response from the audience instead of using imagery because he knows that others will empathize with his circumstance. “Cruel and relentless/ No matter what, I’ll never truly escape/ Life will find me and retrieve me/ It’ll pump me with fear, depression, and despair” (11-14). In regards to the quote, Watts’s speaker wants the audience to realize life is not wondrous at times and comes with hardships. However, Silverstein’s speaker knew imagery would be the highlight of his poem as it has presented symbolic images. “Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black/ And darks street winds and bends./ Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow” (7-9). “And watch where the chalk-white arrow go/ To place where the sidewalk ends” (11-12). The sidewalk and the depiction of the dark streets and wind where the smoke blows black is symbolizing a city. The speaker wants himself and others to leave the city because they have become too immersed in the industrial lifestyle and have begun to lose …show more content…
According to Tartakovsky, “We know that kids have big imaginations. But sometimes we forget just how great they can be. We forget just how much joy and creative fire they can fuel” (Tartakovsky). Unfortunately, Silverstein and Watts’s speakers lost their imagination as they matured and experienced life. However, they both attempted to find their imagination as they grew tired of their misery. Silverstein attempted to find his imagination at the end of the sidewalk, whereas, Watts attempted to find his by hiding in his fantasies while pretending to fly. They both were in desperate need to restore their childlike minds to escape reality. Silverstein’s speaker stated, “For the children, they mark, and the children, they know/ The place where the sidewalk ends.” (15-16). In addition, Watts’s speaker voiced “Leaving the very spot I am/ Leaving behind myself/ Leaving behind my troubles” (1-3). With that being said, children know the place where the sidewalk ends because they possess an imagination since they are young and free without the troubles encountered by their adult counterparts. Unlike children, adults tend to lack imagination because as they get older they perceive having an imagination to be immature and childish. Furthermore, when adults take on demanding responsibilities such as having a family and a career, they believe that they have to grow up and
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