Poem Analysis - The Clean Plater

An Appetizing Ode to Food

The Clean Plater by Ogden Nash is a whimsical and humorous poem that celebrates the author's love for food. The tone is lighthearted and playful, with a touch of self-deprecation. Nash contrasts his own culinary obsessions with the more traditional subjects of art and poetry, creating a delightful shift in mood from the expected to the unexpected. The poem's form, with its playful rhymes and repetitive phrases, supports its lighthearted theme.

The Power of Food

One of the main themes in The Clean Plater is the power of food to bring joy and comfort. Nash lists a variety of foods, from the elegant pheasant and terrapin to the humble butter and jam, emphasizing that all food is worthy of praise. This inclusivity suggests that food is a universal source of pleasure, transcending social and cultural boundaries. The repetition of the phrase all food reinforces this idea, creating a sense of abundance and generosity.

Art and Poetry vs. Food

Another key theme is the contrast between traditional subjects of art and poetry and Nash's own fixation on food. He playfully criticizes artists and poets who focus on the female form, suggesting that food is a more worthy subject. This theme is developed through imagery that contrasts the idealized subjects of art with the tangible, sensual experience of food. For example, Nash describes painters who portray young lambs at play or the female form, but he would rather they painted food. This contrast highlights Nash's belief in the power of food to evoke emotion and inspire creativity.

The Symbol of Food

The most vivid and recurring image in the poem is food itself. Nash uses a wide range of food items, from meats like sirloin and terrapin to vegetables like asparagus and beet, to fruits like apple and berry, and even to condiments like butter and jam. Each food item is a symbol of the pleasure and comfort that food can bring. The repetition of the word food, often in capital letters, emphasizes its importance and centrality to the poem's theme. The open-ended question of what kind of food Nash prefers suggests that all food is good, as long as it is edible and enjoyable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Clean Plater is a delightful celebration of food and its power to bring joy and comfort. Through its playful tone, vivid imagery, and recurring symbols, the poem offers a unique perspective on the role of food in our lives. Nash's contrast between traditional subjects of art and poetry and his own fixation on food highlights the universality and importance of food as a source of pleasure and inspiration. The poem's final lines, with their repetition of the phrase it is glued on food, reinforce this idea, leaving the reader with a sense of the enduring power of food to captivate and inspire.