I. Biographical Context David L. Weatherford Birthdate: July 20 1952 Birthplace: Nashville Occupation: child psychologist and a writer Short informations :Weatherford suffered through kidney failure and had some painful experiences that brought him to writing. According to Weatherfordin an interview he had,“Slow Dance” was actually one of the very first poem he wrote and for many years he did not receive credit for the poem because he was unaware of the popularity it had reached. Other works: Slow Dance When Children Learn Meaning and Mortality Winning the Game of Life You Are Blessed The Moment Standing at the Edge 12 Steps to a Better Self What Really Matters In The Place Where I Am I Resolve – 2009 II. The Poem Slow Dance By: David L. Weatherford Have you ever watched kids On a merry-go-round? Or listened to the rain Slapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night? You better slow down. Don’t dance so fast. Time is short. The music won’t last Do you run through each day On the fly? When you ask How are you? Do you hear the reply? When the day is done Do you lie in your bed With the next hundred chores Running through your head? You better slow down Don’t dance so fast. Time is short. The music won’t last. Ever told your child, We’ll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, Not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die Cause you never had time or call and say,’Hi’ You better slow down. Don’t dance so fast. Time is short. The music won’t last. When you run so fast to get some where You miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift…. Thrown away. Life is not a race. Do take it slower Hear the music Before the song is over. III. Literary Devices Tone The author want us to open our eyes and see the value of time and life. We should always seek on the bigger picture that is happening in our life, seek and dont let the oppurtunities get away from us. Theme Life is needed to be taken slow and freely. Enjoy and cherish our days living in this world. The Author use: imagery, for us to visualize the events happening in our life. The author use it to attract emotion. For example in the line “ever watched the kids on a merry-go-round” or “gazed at the sun fading into the night” both these verses show the image of joyful events. Symbolism, the author uses the title “slow dance” as a representation of life that in meaning we should take our time and cherish each moment Rhyme, it gives impact to the readers. Denotation, the literal meaning of the word “ Slow Dance” is a couple dance slowly, swaying to the music Connotation, The author use the title :slow dance” to explores the idea of passing by through life without taking the time to slow down andenjoy life. Repetition, to highlight the most important phrase in the poem that gives each and everyone of us the opportunity to reflect and ask ourselves if we are living our life to the fullest. The line “You better slow down.Don’t dance so fast.Time is short.The music won’t last” is repeated three times. IV. Critical Interpretation The poem is about cherishing our life and time. In life, people should try to enjoy and live it to the fullest. Everyone should not rush things and appreciate the small things happenning to our life, we should learn how to live the moment and make memories. The author believes that everybody should appreciate and take pleasure in living life more often. He thinks that life is not about hurrying to get to the next place. The poem grips the readers and causes them to think about the way in which they live their lives. Many or everyone rather can relate to this poem especially to those adults and to my fellow students because of a lot of things to do we often forget to slow down and enjoy our life a little, as in the poem says “When you run so fast to get somewhere, /you miss half the fun of getting there”. One little advice for everyone, we should stop punishing ourself make our life stress-free as possible, when you feel hopeless in life just read this poem and reflect on what you should do. V. Close Analysis The words written in the text uses the writing elements imagery, symbolism, and end rhyme The poem is obviously an inspirational poem The poem make the readers to visualize pictures to their minds. The poem can apply to different aspects in any person’s life. For example in the line “Ever lost touch,Let a good friendship die Cause you never had time” it states that we should value our friends and relatives, and enjoy our life with them. The poem makes the readers to create or remember memorable moments in their life.
