A Wicker Basket By Robert Creeley - Giggle Poems

Original Poem：

Comes the time when it’s later
and onto your table the headwaiter
puts the bill, and very soon after
rings out the sound of lively laughter—
Picking up change, hands like a walrus,
and a face like a barndoor’s,
and a head without any apparent size,
nothing but two eyes—
So that’s you, man,
or me. I make it as I can,
I pick up, I go
faster than they know—
Out the door, the street like a night,
any night, and no one in sight,
but then, well, there she is,
old friend Liz—
And she opens the door of her cadillac,
I step in back,
and we’re gone.
She turns me on—
There are very huge stars, man, in the sky,
and from somewhere very far off someone hands me a slice of apple pie,
with a gob of white, white ice cream on top of it,
and I eat it—
Slowly. And while certainly
they are laughing at me, and all around me is racket
of these cats not making it, I make it
in my wicker basket.</p>

Poem Explanation and Interpretation

This poem captures a vivid moment of transition and reflection in everyday life, blending imagery of a social setting with a personal journey. The headwaiter placing the bill signals the end of an eventful evening, accompanied by lively laughter, which contrasts with the speaker’s introspective mood. The poem’s speaker describes themselves with quirky, memorable metaphors — hands like a walrus, a face like a barndoor, and a head with no apparent size — emphasizing a sense of ordinariness or even awkwardness.

The narrative then shifts to a quiet departure into the night, where the speaker meets an old friend, Liz, who offers an escape in her Cadillac. This journey is symbolic, filled with cosmic imagery like “very huge stars” and the comforting, nostalgic image of apple pie with white ice cream. Despite the chaos and noise around (“racket of these cats not making it”), the speaker finds a sense of personal success and peace — “I make it in my wicker basket.” This final line suggests a fragile but hopeful triumph amid life’s struggles.

Background and Author Introduction

This poem reflects themes common in mid-20th century American poetry, where everyday life, personal identity, and social interactions are explored with a mix of humor and melancholy. The use of casual, conversational language and vivid, sometimes surreal imagery is characteristic of poets influenced by the Beat Generation or confessional poetry movements. The poem’s tone suggests a speaker who is both self-aware and resilient, navigating the challenges of existence with a mix of humor and determination.

While the author’s identity is not specified here, the style aligns with poets who focus on the ordinary moments that reveal deeper truths about human connection, loneliness, and hope. The poem’s conversational style makes it accessible, yet its layered imagery invites deeper reflection.

Educational Insights and Learning Points

From this poem, children and students can learn several valuable lessons:

• Imagery and Metaphor: The poem uses vivid metaphors (“hands like a walrus,” “face like a barndoor”) to create memorable pictures that help convey personality and emotion.
• Narrative Voice: The first-person perspective invites readers to empathize with the speaker’s experience, encouraging personal connection to poetry.
• Symbolism: Objects like the apple pie and ice cream symbolize comfort and simple pleasures amid life’s difficulties.
• Themes of Resilience and Friendship: The poem highlights the importance of friendship (Liz) and personal perseverance (“I make it in my wicker basket”).
• Tone and Mood: Students can explore how the poem shifts from lively social scenes to quiet reflection, learning how poets create mood through word choice and imagery.

Practical Applications in Life and Learning

• Creative Writing: Students can practice writing their own poems using metaphors and imagery to describe everyday moments.
• Social-Emotional Learning: The poem offers a way to discuss feelings of loneliness, resilience, and the value of friendship.
• Literary Analysis: It provides a simple yet rich text for analyzing poetic devices such as metaphor, symbolism, and tone.
• Cultural Awareness: The poem’s casual American setting and references (Cadillac, apple pie) can spark discussions about cultural symbols and their meanings.

Reading Comprehension Exercises

1. What event signals the end of the evening in the poem?
2. How does the speaker describe their own hands and face? What effect do these descriptions have?
3. Who is Liz, and what role does she play in the poem?
4. What do the apple pie and ice cream symbolize in the poem?
5. What does the phrase “I make it in my wicker basket” suggest about the speaker’s outlook on life?
6. How does the poem contrast the noisy social setting with the quiet night?
7. What emotions does the speaker seem to experience throughout the poem?

Answers to Reading Comprehension Exercises

1. The headwaiter putting the bill on the table signals the end of the evening.
2. The speaker describes their hands as “like a walrus” and their face “like a barndoor,” which creates a humorous and humble image, emphasizing their ordinariness and perhaps awkwardness.
3. Liz is an old friend who offers the speaker a ride in her Cadillac, symbolizing companionship and escape.
4. The apple pie and ice cream symbolize comfort, simple pleasures, and a moment of sweetness amid life’s challenges.
5. The phrase suggests that despite difficulties, the speaker manages to succeed or survive in their own way, even if it’s fragile or unconventional.
6. The poem contrasts the lively, noisy laughter and social atmosphere with the quiet, empty street and peaceful night journey.
7. The speaker experiences a mix of humor, loneliness, hope, and resilience throughout the poem.

This poem invites readers to appreciate the beauty in ordinary moments and the strength found in friendship and perseverance, making it a valuable resource for both literary study and personal growth.