Passing+Time

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iii. Passing Time
Your skin like dawn Mine like musk

One paints the beginning of a certain end.

The other, the end of a sure beginning.


 * //Compare to//**
 * "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies**

It's been one week since you looked at me Cocked your head to the side and said, "I'm angry" Five days since you laughed at me saying "Get that together, come back and see me" Three days since the living room I realized it's all my fault but couldn't tell you Yesterday, you'd forgiven me But it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry

Hold it now and watch the hoodwink As I make you stop, think You'll think you're looking at Aquaman I summon fish to the dish Although I like the Chalet Swiss I like the sushi 'Cause it's never touched a frying pan Hot like wasabi when I bust rhymes Big like Leann Rimes Because I'm all about value Bert Kaempfert's got the mad hits You try to match wits You try to hold me but I bust through Gonna make a break and take a fake I'd like a stinkin' achin' shake I like vanilla, it's the finest of the flavours Gotta see the show 'cause then you'll know The vertigo is gonna grow 'cause it's so dangerous You'll have to sign a waiver

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad? Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral Can't understand what I mean? Well, you soon will I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve I have a history of taking off my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me Threw your arms in the air and said, "You're crazy" Five days since you tackled me I've still got the rug burns on both my knees It's been three days since the afternoon You realized it's not my fault, not a moment too soon Yesterday, you'd forgiven me And now I sit back and wait till you say you're sorry

Chickity China the Chinese chicken You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin' Watchin' X-Files with no lights on We're dans la maison I hope the Smoking Man's in this one Like Harrison Ford I'm getting frantic Like Sting I'm tantric Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy Like Kurosawa, I make mad films 'Kay, I don't make films But if I did they'd have a Samurai Gonna get a set a' better clubs Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs Just so my irons aren't always flying off the back-swing Gotta get in tune with Sailor Moon 'Cause that cartoon has got the boom anime babes That make me think the wrong thing

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad? Tryin' hard not to smile though I feel bad I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral Can't understand what I mean? You soon will I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve I have a history of losing my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me Dropped your arms to your sides and said, "I'm sorry" Five days since I laughed at you and said "You just did just what I thought you were gonna do" Three days since the living room We realized we're both to blame, but what could we do? Yesterday, you just smiled at me 'Cause it'll still be two days till we say we're sorry

It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry


 * //Literary Techniques//**
 * i. Juxtaposition **
 * In the poem:** One paints the beginning of a certain end. The other, the end of a sure beginning.
 * In the song:** Yesterday, you'd forgiven me, But it'll still be two days 'til I say I'm sorry

Place or deal with close together for contrasting effect.

In both the song and poem juxtaposition is shown with ideas that oppose and are related to each other, such as the ends of beginnings and beginnings of ends alongside the notion that a man has been forgiven, but it is two days before he apologizes.


 * ii. Simile **
 * In the poem:** Your skin like dawn, mine like musk
 * In the song:** Hot like wasabi when I bust rhymes, Big like Leann Rimes; Like Harrison Ford I'm getting frantic, Like Sting I'm tantric, Like Snickers I'm guaranteed to satisfy, Like Kurosawa I make mad films

A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid. Uses "like" or "as" to draw comparison.

The use of a simile here is done all with the word "like," but Angelou compares her dark skin to another's light skin. The singer for Barenaked Ladies likens himself to many things and people he is not. It provides imagery and personality through these aspects.


 * iii. Personification **
 * In the poem:** One paints the beginning
 * In the song:** Like Snickers I'm guaranteed to satisfy; My irons aren't always flying off the back swing

The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.

The use of personification in both the poem and song provides a sense of imagery, the painting of the beginning being gentle and artistic (as the poem calls skin and skin color to be the subjects). Likewise, a candy bar cannot physically guarantee anything, nor can "irons" fly.