Poem Analysis #1

Bleezer's Ice Cream

By Jack Prelutsky

I am Ebenezer Bleezer,

I run BLEEZER'S ICE CREAM STORE,

there are flavors in my freezer

you have never seen before,

twenty-eight divine creations

too delicious to resist,

why not do yourself a favor,

try the flavors on my list:

COCOA MOCHA MACARONI

TAPIOCA SMOKED BALONEY

CHECKERBERRY CHEDDAR CHEW

CHICKEN CHERRY HONEYDEW

TUTTI-FRUTTI STEWED TOMATO

TUNA TACO BAKED POTATO

LOBSTER LITCHI LIMA BEAN

MOZZARELLA MANGOSTEEN

ALMOND HAM MERINGUE SALAMI

YAM ANCHOVY PRUNE PASTRAMI

SASSAFRAS SOUVLAKI HASH

SUKIYAKI SUCCOTASH

BUTTER BRICKLE PEPPER PICKLE

POMEGRANATE PUMPERNICKEL

PEACH PIMENTO PIZZA PLUM

PEANUT PUMPKIN BUBBLEGUM

BROCCOLI BANANA BLUSTER

CHOCOLATE CHOP SUEY CLUSTER

AVOCADO BRUSSELS SPROUT

PERIWINKLE SAUERKRAUT

COTTON CANDY CARROT CUSTARD
CAULIFLOWER COLA MUSTARD
ONION DUMPLING DOUBLE DIP
TURNIP TRUFFLE TRIPLE FLIP
GARLIC GUMBO GRAVY GUAVA
LENTIL LEMON LIVER LAVA
ORANGE OLIVE BAGEL BEET
WATERMELON WAFFLE WHEAT

I am Ebenezer Bleezer,
I run BLEEZER'S ICE CREAM STORE,
taste a flavor from my freezer,
you will surely ask for more.

My analysis:

I like the poem Bleezer's Ice Cream Store because of its rhyme scheme and rhythm. I also like the use of alliteration. Another cool thing is that in the first line of the first and third stanzas, there is internal rhyme (Ebenezer Bleezer). In the first and third stanzas, the odd-numbered lines have eight syllables, but the even-numbered lines have seven. The first and third lines rhyme, the second and fourth lines rhyme, etc. Example (commas for line breaks): I am Ebenezer Bleezer, I run Bleezer's Ice Cream Store, there are flavors in my freezer, you have never seen before. In the second stanza (ice cream flavors), lines one and two are both eight syllables and rhyme, lines three and four are only seven syllables but still rhyme, etc. Example (commas for line breaks): BUTTER BRICKLE PEPPER PICKLE, POMEGRANATE PUMPERNICKEL, PEACH PIMENTO PIZZA PLUM, PEANUT PUMPKIN BUBBLEGUM. There is also internal rhyme in the line "BUTTER BRICKLE PEPPER PICKLE". The alliteration is in the second stanza; some lines are alliterated but others aren't. Example: COTTON CANDY CARROT CUSTARD. The overall pattern of eight-syllable lines alternating seven-syllable lines is an effective rhythmic pattern.

The poem Bleezer's Ice Cream Store also has a personal appeal to me. It reminds me of going into one of those ice cream places where they have many ridiculous flavors that you've never even heard of before. I also have fond childhood memories of going to Baskin-Robbins. There are many poems by Jack Prelutsky that are very similar in some way to this one, which reminds me of a book of Jack Prelutsky poems that I used to read over and over. I would recommend this poem to anyone looking for lighthearted writing and a good laugh. Overall, this poem uses some good literary techniques as well as a personal touch.

Image credits: http://icecreamsuppliers.com/ice-cream-facts