Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "You Too? Me Too - Why Not? Soda Pop," John Hollander plays with the shape of the text to resemble a Coca-Cola bottle, creatively intertwining visual art and poetry. The poem explores the allure and cultural significance of the iconic soda bottle, emphasizing its pervasive presence and the sensory experience it evokes.

The poem begins with the speaker's direct engagement with the object: "I.am / look / ing.at / the.Co / caCola / bottle." This fragmented structure mimics the ridged design of the bottle, inviting the reader to visually trace the contours of the familiar shape. The text's alignment reinforces the visual likeness to a Coca-Cola bottle, emphasizing the interplay between form and content.

Hollander captures the physical characteristics of the bottle, describing it as "green.wi / th.ridges / just-like / c....c....c / o.....o.....o / l.......l.......l / u.......u.......u / m......m......m / n........n........n / s..........s..........s." The repetition and spacing of letters convey the tactile sensation of the bottle's ridges, enhancing the sensory experience of reading the poem.

The poem's transition to discussing the bottle's label, "and..on..itself..it..says / COCA-COLA / reg.u.s.pat.off.," underscores the branding that has made Coca-Cola a cultural icon. This line serves as a reminder of the brand's ubiquitous presence and its status as a symbol of American consumer culture.

As the poem progresses, Hollander delves into the relationship between the bottle and its contents: "exactly..like..an..art..pop / statue...of..that..kind..of / bottle..but..not..so..green / that...the...juice...inside / gives..other..than..the.co- / lor..it..has..when..I..pour / it.out..in..a..clear..glass / glass..on..this..table..top." Here, the poem juxtaposes the bottle's exterior with the liquid inside, reflecting on how the color remains consistent regardless of the container. This consistency highlights the uniformity and predictability of mass-produced products.

The speaker's thirst is invoked by the visual and sensory appeal of the soda: "It’s..making...me..thirsty / all...this...winking....and / beading.....of...Hippocrene / please.let.me.pause..drink- / ing....the....fluid.....in)." The reference to "Hippocrene," a mythical fountain of poetic inspiration, suggests that the soda, like the mythical spring, entices and refreshes. This line blurs the boundary between the ordinary and the mythic, elevating the act of drinking soda to a moment of poetic reflection.

The poem's conclusion shifts focus to the cultural and economic implications of soda production: "making..me..long..to..watch / them..harvesting..the..crop / which..makes..the.deep-aged / rich.brown.wine.of..America / that.is.to.say..which.makes / soda....................pop." Here, Hollander draws a parallel between the production of soda and the agricultural processes that sustain it. The term "rich.brown.wine.of..America" positions soda as a quintessentially American product, analogous to wine in its cultural significance.

In "You Too? Me Too - Why Not? Soda Pop," John Hollander masterfully combines visual and textual elements to create a poem that is both playful and thought-provoking. By shaping the text to mimic a Coca-Cola bottle, he invites readers to consider the cultural, sensory, and economic dimensions of this ubiquitous object. The poem's inventive structure and rich imagery underscore the interconnectedness of everyday experiences and broader cultural narratives, offering a nuanced reflection on the significance of a simple bottle of soda.

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