The Cop and the Anthem

Summary

Soapy who is a tramp, is the protagonist in the story. He has no job to earn his food and no place to sleep. He was very restless because winter was fast approaching. The signs in the environment warned Soapy of the coming winter. Leaves were withering due to the onset of winter. He had to find a place to protect himself from the winter because the newspapers couldn’t keep him warm in the park. He could not have spent the winter sleeping on the bench which was his home.

Soapy’s plans for the winter were not very high. He wished to spend three months on the Island which was a place where prisoners were kept. To go on the Island one had to be arrested by police on some charge. Unless one committed a crime one could not be taken to the Island. Therefore Soapy decided to commit a petty crime so that he would be arrested by the police and sent to the Island. Since he did not like to live on charity he did not seek food and shelter in any other place where he would have been expected to do some work in return. This was the reason that made him to decide to go the Island where he didn’t have to work hard. Moreover he could enjoy privacy in the Islands which was not possible in any other place. This determination of going to the Islands made Soapy to think of committing a petty crime which would attract the attention of the police and would eventually help him go to the Island.

There were many ways for achieving his goal. Soapy planned to go into a restaurant, eat lavishly and not refuse to pay the bills. The restaurant people would immediately call the cops and that would mean the accomplishment of Soapy’s desire. Therefore he started walking out of Madison Square, to the place where the streets called Broadway and Fifth Avenue meet. There he stopped in front of a large and brightly lit restaurant. His coat was good enough to go inside the restaurant and he started thinking about the meal which he would order. But unfortunately as soon as Soapy stepped inside the restaurant than the waiter stopped him because Soapy’s shoes were worn out and so were unfit for such a place. Disappointed Soapy, now saw a shop with wide glass window, bright with electric lights, at the corner of the Sixth Avenue road. Soapy picked up a stone and hit the glass. The cop along with other people came to the corner. On enquiry, when Soapy admitted the fact that he was the one who had broken the glass, the cop refused to believe him because he thought that the person who broke the glass, would not stand there to admit the crime. Therefore Soapy’s second attempt to get caught in the hands of cop failed.

Finding it very difficult to fulfill his desire, Soapy saw another restaurant across the street. The restaurant did not seem to be of great pretentions. He thought that there he would be allowed with his shoes. He went inside and had food for which he refused to pay the bill. Instead of calling the cop Soapy was thrown outside the restaurant by two waiters who beat him up. After the third failure, going to the Island seemed only a dream for Soapy. Soapy sick at heart, walked half a mile and tried again. This time he wanted to go and talk to a woman who was standing in front of a shop window. He also saw a cop standing nearby. This time he was sure that he would be able to achieve his dream. He went near her and tried to perform the role of a ‘masher,’ but in return the woman herself stretched out her hand and held him. At this he seemed doomed to liberty.

 In the next corner, in front of a theatre he made an attempt of disorderly conduct. He danced, sang, shouted. But the cop mistook him to be a Yale lad celebrating goose egg they gave to Hartford College for which they (cop) were instructed to leave them (lad) free. Soapy’s desire was turning into an impossible dream when he came across a man in a cigar store with an umbrella. Soapy in a very casual manner took the silk umbrella and walked away hoping this time to be caught in the hands of police. The man walked hastily for Soapy only to confirm whether that umbrella belonged to Soapy or not, which he (man) had picked that morning in a restaurant.

Soapy by then was completely disheartened. He cursed the cops. He thought that just because he wanted to fall into their clutches that they were treating him like a king. But in an unusually quiet corner Soapy came to a standstill. There was an old church, quaint and rambling and gabled. Through one violet-stained window a soft light glowed, where, no doubt, the organist loitered over the keys, making sure of his mastery of the coming Sabbath anthem. Soapy was transfixed listening to the anthem. It was serene atmosphere with very few people walking on the streets along with the moon being lustrous. One was reminded of a country churchyard.

Soapy was familiar with the anthem. It reminded him of his earlier days when had family, friends, collars, etc. The conjunction of Soapy’s receptive mind and the influence of the old church stirred Soapy’s heart and brought about a sudden change in him. It was at that moment that he realized the pit in which he has forced himself to fall- the degraded days, unworthy desires, dead hopes, wrecked faculties and base motives that made up his existence. With this, he came to the conclusion that he would work hard and make his living, instead of depending on anyone or anything. He was determined that he would come out of this mire and make a better existence in the world.  Suddenly Soapy felt an arm on his shoulder and when he turned he saw a police man. On asking what he was doing there, Soapy didn’t have anything to say. On not finding any reason for standing in front of the church, the cops announced three months of stay for Soapy in the Islands.

The Zebras by Roy Campbell

In ‘The Zebras,’ Roy Campbell describes the beauty of nature and celebration of life. He re-creates the magic of nature and creation through this poem. He uses imagery in abundance to enhance this theme. The poem is a visual treat of scenic beauty to the readers and also appeals to the auditory senses. He presents a portrait of luxuriant foliage of the woods in which a herd of zebras are running joyously. The whole atmosphere is shaded by the canopy or the foliage of the trees and so the sun’s rays are seen creeping in wherever there is a gap in the foliage. The whole forest atmosphere smells of moistened soil, the forest having received some showers on the previous night. When the golden rays of the sun fall on the flanks of the zebras, the golden rays are reflected on the white stripes of the zebras and one happens to believe as if they are passing through electric tremors. Then the poet says the movement of the zebras across this plain looks as if these zebras are drawing the dawn along with them.

The Zebras are seen wading through knee deep grass and scarlet red flowers. It also appears as though the sun’s rays are fusing with the land and as the zebra passes by it looks as though it alternates through the shadows of these rays. “Barred with electric tremors through the grass” refers to the light and shade effect and also the enthusiasm and vibrancy of the movement of the Zebras. The poet uses a simile and describes this as “wind along the golden strings of a lyre.” Thus Zebras are running their feet kicks up a lot of dust and their warm breath and the sun rays create a vision of flames of fire lifting above the ground. A stallion in the herd with dove-like voices calls the fillies. The herd of zebras looks like an engine of beauty charged with joy and delight. The stallion then runs along with the mares to roll on trampled lilies. The whole poem appeals to all the senses and presents a vibrant picture of nature.