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Peter Sears is a modern day poet. He focuses on modern problems and other recent topics in the twenty first century. The poems ‘the good old body’ and ‘mean’ are in his collection known as The Brink. These poems are related as they focus on the same thematic concerns. The poet has enhanced each of these themes using different artistic techniques. The paper critiques both poems with a focus on how stylistic features enhance thematic development.

The poem ‘mean’ is a short poem about a person’s memory of his past life. The persona speaks of his childhood experience as a child. He describes the funny memory of him being picked on by his brothers and cousins. He recalls the time he pretended to drive a car. The poet uses a distinct method in the poem. Instead of using meter in the poem he uses the prose, a continuous form of sentences that are linked to one another. With this method he presents the experience as a continuous story. The poet uses the use of first person narration as a method by which he discusses the experience. The method enables the story to be more realistic and personal.

The poem’ the good old body’ is a poem describing the aging effect on the human body. The persona speaks of how his body was not its original form. He uses third person narration in the description of the aging process. In the poem, meter is not used. Again the poet uses distinctive prose like sentences to describe the contents of the poem. With this method he presents the experience as memorable and more close to reality. The poet uses the third person form of narration. In this, he takes on the position of an observer in the situation. He describes in detail the body and the aging process. The method presents a more unique perspective on the aging process.

In comparison, the two poems focus on the same thematic concerns. The main thematic concern is aging. The poems focus on the aging process. The poem ‘the good old body’ discusses the body undergoing through the change process. The poem ‘mean’ also presents the aging process. It brings the difference between childhood and adulthood. The themes in this works are brought out in unique and different ways. The creative use of language is the style is the manipulation of ordinary language in order to create and a right emotion in the reader. The two pieces portray unique stylistic features in which the work is described. One such unique type of language use is the use of imagery. This is the creation of mental images through the manipulation of language. The poem ‘the good old body’ uses this technique efficiently. It incorporates vivid description as a method to create mental pictures. The poet takes great care in the description of the aging process in the poet. Imagery in the poem ‘mean’ the poet uses vivid description as well. In this he recreates the persona’s childhood memory. Upon reading, the picture of the persona being made fun of by his brothers and cousins recreates in the mind.

The poet has excellent word choice. The diction in both poems is simple and uncomplicated. The use of simple diction is a unique feature in the poem. The use of simple diction and prose-like sentences brings in a more humanistic feel in the poems. The simple languages in the poem ‘mean’ help with the transition presented in the poem. The persona is in two different ages. In the opening line, he is an adult. In the following lines, he takes on a child form who narrates the performances. The use of simple language enhances the understanding of the theme. It enables the writer to view and understand the aging process.

The tone in the two poems differs greatly. The poem ‘the good old body’ presents a serious tone. The persona being a person of advanced age is described in greater form of language. The serious tone is enhances the message of the poem. It presents the seriousness of the age issue. It describes the aging process as a rite of passage where all people have to go through. This tone greatly differs the one in the poem ‘mean’. In the poem the use of childlike persona in the transition presents the poem in a subtle tone. The description of childhood experiences presents as sense of subtlety in the poem. Moreover, the experience is presented in a less serious manner.

The poem ‘the good old body’ is written in a symbolic manner. It presents the slow process of aging as a sign of maturity. The aging process is described gracefully to explain the beauty of maturity. The poem ‘mean’ also incorporates symbolism in the description of the aging process. The author’s reference to driving presents the distinctive flow of life. Driving being an adult activity is used to indicate a sign of maturity. In the poem, the persona pretends to be driving. The persona‘s wish to learn how to drive indicates his internal desire to be an adult. The reason for this being a means by which he would stop his cousins and brothers from making fun of him. He believes that when he transforms into an adult he will be taken more seriously. The level of maturity achieved in his ability to drive. His view presented in the first sentence indicates being tired of the adult life and a longing for his childhood.The poet has incorporated numerous voices in the poem ‘mean’. In this, the poet has used three distinctive voices in the poem. He uses the voice of an adult at the beginning of the poem. He uses the voice of a child to narrate his childhood experience. There is another voice other than that of the persona. This is the voice of one of the persona’s cousins or brothers who makes fun of his height in the poem. The poem ‘the good old body’ is written with one voice, one of an old man.

Conclusively, the two poems are excellent artistic pieces that show the poet’s prowess in using two methods in describing the same theme. The poems share features in the form of thematic concern, stylistic expression and word choice. The poems explore the poet’s true feelings and idea about aging. He believes it is an excellent level that indicates maturity on the part of the person. He beckons on people to dismiss their fears of aging. He wishes they accept it as a true form of maturity and refinement.