"Siren Song"
This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:
the song that forces me
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see the beached skulls
the song nobody knows
because anyone who has heard it
is dead, and the others can't remember.
Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
I don't enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical
with these two feathery maniacs,
I don't enjoy singing
this trio, fatal and valuable.
I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song
is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique
at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.
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I think this poem is describing the way people follow the "in crowd" in life and they will do anything to get there
ReplyDeletePatrick Evans
I found this poem rather humorous. Margaret Atwood is making an illusion to the Sirens in Greek mythology. The Sirens were the women with the beautiful voices in "The Odyssey." he poem is told from the perspective of one of the Sirens.Men could not resist the voices and they would jump ship (Stanza 2). The siren tells us of the song that no one knows (those who heard it died.) In the last stanza, the siren explains that the song isn't really that great: "it is a boring song but works every time." I thought that the last stanza was funny. :)
ReplyDeleteI think this poem is about people conforming. A lot of people spend their entire lives trying to live up to certain expectations, but when they finally become "popular" they die, or they realize its not as great as they expected.
ReplyDelete-Katie Toth
Ah! I totally did not understand what was going on until I read Rachel's comment. I completely agree with her. Like in the Odyssey, Odysseus is drawn toward the siren's song because of their beautiful voices and makes the men on his ship plug their ears with wax so that they won't be lured to the shore and crash their ship. As they pass, they see the remnants of ships that have crashed on the rocky shore. I always thought that the Sirens were beautiful women though. What is the reference to the "bird suit" about?
ReplyDeleteMadison, I am not completely sure on this, but I think that the Sirens were bird-like women with wings. However, I think that they had human heads and beautiful voices. I could be wrong though.
ReplyDeleteThe most intriguing element of this poem to me is its sarcasm. The allusion to sirens of Greek mythology is funny in a kind of demented way. The poem kind of jokes about people being tempted into something they know is their utter demise, yet sailors continuously end up with a horrid fate. I agree that the poem provides an interesting view on how people will conform to the world even if it is not the smart way to go.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that the Siren Song is made out to be a cry for help. To me, that says that the Sirens need help, but anyone who tries to help them ends up dying. Therefore, the Sirens are doomed to continue singing their song forever
ReplyDelete-Kaitlyn Sabourin
I think this poem is a comment on gullibility. The narrator persuades the person to come to her by saying she wants to be rescued. She says this song works every time. So everyone is really gullible if they believe her even though there are skulls right next to them.
ReplyDeleteThe Sirens were the bird-like women in Greek myth. Good comments, guys!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katie. People do live their lives trying to reach a certain "high point" when in reality when we get to the said point, nothing is there. In concurrence with Philip,
ReplyDelete"Do not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." ~Romans 12:2
So sirens are bird human ladies? hmm don't they draw sailors in and when they come close enough they turn into a bird and bite the man's head off and have supper? om nom nom. that'd kinda suck to be eaten. I mean if i were eaten then i couldn't see or hear anymore. or use my arms, or my legs for that matter. that'd really suck, Nope Siren i will not help you. why don't you go join some music school and become a teacher that bites students' heads off if they are not disciplined. Then you might pick up a new song or two. lol
ReplyDeletePhilip Wolfe
Philip, choir teachers can be scary enough without being able to turn into birds. I'm good with the sirens staying where they are.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Siren's song says that people want to know what others are talking about, but once they find out it doesn't help them, they decide they don't like it.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Akridge
I think this poem is about trying to reach a certain unobtainable goal. The sirens want help, but they cannot get it and the people listening to the sirens want to see them, but they will end up getting eaten if they do.
ReplyDeleteI do not think this poem has any message. The author is simply stating an interesting paradox. The sirens call for help by singing, but their songs lure any potential rescuers to their deaths. The author was just expressing an interesting thought.
ReplyDelete-Zhijian Xing
I think is is interesting how if the sirens wants to get off the island, but they continues to lure the sailors into crashing into the island and lose their chances of getting off.
ReplyDelete-Mary Eisenhower
this poem is describing how people will do anything to be cool and they'll even put there life on the line and if they actually become it they'll find out that life was better than it is now
ReplyDelete-joey hanson
I think its interesting how the author turns this into the actual siren's song and its really ironic to think about it, if these were the lyrics. Men jumping overboard while listening to the very words that describe their actions. If these really were the lyrics those girls must of had some amazing voices.
ReplyDeleteHannah, that is a hilarious thought! I hadn't thought about this poem in terms of lyrics, but I can definately see that. It does put a wonderfully ironic spin to this poem!
ReplyDeleteWhat I got from this poem, was that people think that if they do what other people are doing they will fit in and become "popular". But the few people that live for themselves and don't try to impress other people, realize that there is better things to do than try to gain other people's approvals by doing what they do. The people that just follow that crowd and don't really have any individuality will sometimes die..
ReplyDelete-Maggie Peake
I think what he saying is that he likes to sing( he never says he does not like to sing so I consuming that he likes to sing) but he does'nt want to sing just people are forcing him to sing, like I do. I like to draw.. but if somebody force me to draw, I can't draw. In school, sometimes I do not want to draw, but in art class, it is your duty to draw. The word duty makes me hard to draw
ReplyDeleteI like Hannah's comment about this being the actual siren's song. I really quite enjoy Margaret Atwood's take on what the siren's song would say, it's humorous in a grim sort of way. I have a question though, why does she say that she wants out of her bird suit? that would seem that she isn't a bird creature, just dressed up as one? or am I missing a definition of suit?
ReplyDeleteIf the poem in its entirety is the song of the Sirens, what a work of art! I could see how this would be irresistible for passing sailors. It not only makes listeners feel sympathy for the Sirens, but also plays on the natural curiosity of humanity. Who doesn't like to know secrets!? I especially like the last stanza, "Alas / it is a boring song / but it works every time." Funny!
ReplyDeleteThis poem, if put in modern context, could be talking about the way people try to fit into society. It almost describes the way people will twist an image or idea for exceptance of others. The Siren's "song" that temps so many could be the "perfect image" that everyone strives to acheive in life.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. This poem reminds me of two things: One- the Odessy, where Odyssius is tempted by the song of the Sirens and trashes against the pole he is tied to to get to them. Two, another book I have read, I believe it's the third in the Great and Terrible Beauty series? There's a little quip about Sirens there, too. I love how the author takes something beautiful and lethal, and makes it vulnerable. She's the devil's advocate in a way, saying that yes, the Siren is beautiful, it is perfect, it's sound is seductive and irresistable. But she is miserable, as she has to kill anyone who gets close. What an awful exsistance that would be? You'd have no one to share your perfection with but the ones that you kill and yourself. And then that is to say, is perfection still perfection, when noone else can see it?
ReplyDeleteThis poem is about how easy it is to trick a person when you do not like the situation you are in. Usually when a person is in pain, hurt, or needs help others will willingly come to their rescue even if the other person is lying.
ReplyDeleteLucero
Hahaha. Another funny one in my opinion. :) Depicting one of the Sirens as a normal-ish woman reminds me of how a tough-looking person might actually be really sweet and kind.
ReplyDeletei agree with meredith's comment about the last line. The Sirens lure the sailors and they fall for their song everytime. i thought this poem was interesting cause you always hear about the sirens from the sailors point of view but never the actual sirens point of view. it puts an interesting twist on the mythological story
ReplyDeleteIts the secret to life, knowing the special song! I really like the imagery in this poem when I read it I could really see these bird women in my mind!
ReplyDeleteLauren Payne
I sing a song of woe
ReplyDeletemy heart a'breaking
aid never comes
can you spare a dime
for those who have none?
I took everything you had
why can you not give me more?
Why will you not care enough
to help those ever in need?