Poetry in Slow Motion

Charles Thompson finds his class's poetry unit baffling. When Mrs. Hogan asks what a poem about freedom means, he claims that it concerns a boy whose mother puts unwanted ingredients on his sandwiches. Courtney Vincent soon discovers that Charles has noticed the word “relish” and sincerely mistaken the poem's subject. Embarrassed, Charles calls poetry dumb and rejects Courtney's offer to help, even though the class will be studying it for four weeks.

At Whit's End, Charles struggles over another poem and complains to Jack that poets do not even rhyme properly. His next assignment is to write a poem himself. Jack advises him to begin with something he cares about and see what comes out, but Charles is already afraid he cannot do it.

The next day, Charles asks Courtney what the assigned poem means, pretending he only wants to compare her answer with his own. In class he repeats her explanation with several words badly mangled. Courtney immediately realizes he has taken her answer, but Charles insists that he understands. He would rather hide his confusion than admit that he needs help.

Rusty Gordon recognizes Charles's desperation and offers to sell him poems supposedly written by Rusty's college-age sister. Charles refuses, determined to write his own. After three hours, he proudly reads Jack a poem called “I Like Pants.” It is simple, repetitive, and sincere. Jack tries to be gentle, but warns that some classmates may laugh at its unusual subject. Humiliated by the thought, Charles tears it up and declares that no one will ever see it.

The following morning, Courtney tells Charles that a late assignment will lose twenty-five points. Already carrying poor grades, he panics and buys a poem from Rusty for ten dollars. The poem praises a mother as a best friend, and Charles presents it to the class as his own. Mrs. Hogan recognizes it from a greeting card her son has given her. She assigns Charles a failing grade and says she must tell his parents.

When Charles admits that he had written and destroyed a poem about pants, Mrs. Hogan tries to understand why he cheated. At last he confesses that he does not understand poetry and is tired of always needing assistance in every subject. He wanted to accomplish something alone. Mrs. Hogan points out that refusing help has left him with a failing grade and just as much work as before. Everyone has weaknesses, she says, even a teacher who cannot operate electronics without her husband's help. Humility is not humiliation; it is accepting that no one is perfect.

At lunch, Charles tells Courtney the truth about the purchased greeting-card verse. Then he asks what a rose symbolizes in another poem. Courtney is delighted that he is finally requesting help. When she explains the clue that he has missed, Charles opens his book and listens.