An analysis of "Letter's to Wendy's" through the lens of Percy Bysshe Shelley's, "A Defense of Poetry"

I would like to concentrate on one aspect of Percy Bysshe Shelley's, "A Defense of Poetry", in my analysis of, "Letters to Wendy's". On page 50, towards the beginning of the first full paragraph you will find the following: 

"Although all men observe a similar, they observe not the same order... For there is a certain order or rhythm belonging to each of these... from which the hearer or and the spectator receive an intenser and purer pleasure than from any other."

This quote speaks to the idea that while each of us may encounter the same visual stimulus how we perceive that stimulus and the feelings that result depend very much on the individual. Consequently, the feelings of elation that can result from being presented with that stimulus can be a great deal more or less intense than that of another person presented with the same picture.

It is quite clear that Joe Wenderoth, the author of, "Letter to Wendy's", is able to observe Wendy in a manner different from you or I. While her image will likely invoke a feeling of hunger, or thoughts of food (be they positive or negative), I would guess with a certain level of confidence that few of us would have sexual feelings towards the fast-food icon. Personally, upon seeing her face on a television, billboard or magazine advertisement, I am reminded of my high schools nights, when I would frequently get stoned with friends and scrounge up enough money for a Jr. Bacon Cheese Burger, small french fries and a frosty. For you, the same picture may make you queesy due to a bad experience involving a band aid and a spicy chicken sandwich. However, this is not what Wenderoth feels when presented with the picture. His mind immediately wanders to how best to use his tongue to reach both her clit and asshole at the same time. His feelings have to do with a hunger that cannot be satisfied by burgers and fries. 

While I have to question the mind of a man who gets a hard on from a cartoon of a 10 year old girl with red pigtails, I will openly admit that I am jealous. Imagine being able to have an orgasm every time you saw the nike swoosh or heard a Freecreditreport.com jingle. You would be a very happy human being.

sess-TEE-nah: Naught but a Marboro and coffee will suffice.

Derived from the Latin word sextus, which means sixth, a Sestina is a seldom used form of poetry that is almost mathematical in its form. There is no rhyme scheme, rather there is a scheme involving the recurrence of the final words in the initial six lines, in a rolling order. (Try to figure out the scheme.) After six of these stanzas, the sestina concludes with a tercet, or three line stanza that uses two of the recurring words in each line.

Lately I have found myself wanting

a Marboro cigarette for breakfast.

With this I require a cup of strong black coffee.

You see, my typical indulgences have grown stale

and lack the sustenance 

that I require in the morning.

Do not suggest I eat eggs or bacon in the morning

for that will leave me wanting

and I require a different sustenance

from my breakfast.

Besides, my bacon has goen moldy and the eggs have gone stale. 

I will stick with my Marboro and coffee.

Do you think God drinks coffee

when he rises in the morning?

Certainly his bacon is not moldy and his eggs are not stale.

He is never left wanting.

There is nothing lacking from his table at breakfast

yet he needs not worry about sustenance.

We who are animals need to worry about sustenance.

Yet still I say, "Give Me Coffee!"

and I shout, "I Will Have Marboro With My Breakfast!"

lest I be cranky in the morning

and be left, the rest of the day, unsatisfied and wanting.

This repetitiveness may one day grow stale.

Yet today it is not stale.

And I will choose, nay, DEMAND it for my morning sustenance

for today, that is what I find myself wanting.

There is nothing I would find more satisfying than strong black coffee

and a Marboro on this morning.

It is like eating a laxative for breakfast.

Is that not why we eat breakfast?

To prepare our bodies for the day, lest we feel sluggish and stale.

Oh, the glory of a shit in the morning.

It prepares me for my day more than any sustenance.

Perhaps tomorrow I will not reach for a Marboro and coffee

but will have a different sense of wanting.

However, today I am wanting for my breakfast

Only a Marboro and coffee that is not too stale

It is all the sustenance I need on this morning.

Workshop: Clutter and Pieces

I awoke today to find myself amidst a pile of clutter

It was like no clutter I had ever seen before

It was like no clutter that ever was before

And it was my clutter

Sometime during the night, I had shattered into so many millions of pieces

There were pieces so small that they could fit through the eye of a needle

And there were pieces so large that it staggered the mind to truly comprehend their enormity

And they were my pieces

Where did these pieces come from?

Why was this clutter here?

Would I ever feel whole again?

Had I ever felt whole to begin with?

And If I hadn't, then was this such a tragedy?

For even the greatest clutter can be organized

Even the smallest pieces put back together

But what of the pieces I couldn't find?

What would happen to them?

They would, no doubt, join the rest of the pieces I had lost along the way

Those pieces that had already joined with the throngs of pieces that we all leave behind

And what is to become of me, the man without all of his pieces

The man who is destined to clutter

Certainly there will be more lost pieces to look forward to

And undoubtedly I will wake up amidst the clutter again.

But then, isn't that what we are all destined for?

Isn't life merely the shedding  of old pieces in pursuit of ones that fit better into the whole?

And isn't there a sensual gratification to be felt in cleaning of a truly epic clutter?

Today I woke up and found myself amidst a pile of clutter and pieces

It was like every other clutter that has ever existed

And they were like all the pieces that have ever been left behind

And I reveled in their beauty

King to King

Dear Mr. Presely,

I have been called by my many fans the strong, silent type. I will, however, be breaking that silence this day to respond to your slanderous accusations and downright coarse and rude demeanor. We are not so different, you and I. Are we not men? Do we not bleed? Do we not cry? Do we not enjoy bringing joy and satisfaction to our admirers; you through your music and me through my  delicious, flame-broiled burgers? Truly we are two sides of the very same coin. And speaking of coin, did you know that my all new chipolte fish wrap will fill you up and keep a little coin in your pocket?

The slandorizing correspondence I have received from you on this day does not befit royalty. It is the mark of the weak minded and overly simple to resort to petty name-calling and idle threats. Furthermore, a true gentleman would have enough honor to bring such issues to my attention in person. Only a coward would hide behind paper and ink. I therefore charge you a coward and chicken to the very core of your being. While we are on the subject, I would highly recommend  trying my new Tasty Chicken Whopper Jr. It will fill you up with out slowing you down, all for a mere buck buck buck. 

I ask you then, Mr. Presley is there not room in this wide world for two kings. For truly, I could never bring joy to the masses through song, dance and a hot boogie groove. While I do not know for certain, I would be willing to wager my crown that you could not fame-broil a burger or crisp a batch of golden brown french fries quite like I. If you could just be satisfied with being the king of rock and roll, the title of the king of the burger is all the accolade I will ever require. As they say, the world was not meant to be ruled by just one man.

I am most sincerely yours,

The Burger King

P.S. In an attempt to make the peace, I have enclosed with this letter one coupon for 50 cents off of our new deep fried peanut butter banana burger. Oh yes, we have officially added Elvis' King Burger to our menu. I thank you for the idea and wish you a good day.

P.P.S. If you even think of opening your own burger chain, we will crush you.