Lawrence Ferlinghetti's "Autobiography": An Analysis

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's "Autobiography" is a poem of depressing and nostalgic proportions. Beginning with the first line, we are introduced to Ferlinghetti's "quiet life" which carries onto a sad tone. He brings us into his life and then into his past, slowly revealing why he is "leading a quiet life." The way in which he speaks of his past seems like he has lived his life submissively and effortlessly. The line "I had an unhappy childhood" confirms his saddening tone. Then interestingly, he begins each line with one statement and then contradicts his attitude towards life like "I chopped trees for the CCC and sat on them." He also sees garbage men parading which shows strength and pride through difficult times. But as the past progresses, we see that Ferlinghetti is becoming more adventurous through traveling and riding "boxcars boxcars boxcars." My thoughts on the repetition for this word is that he rode a lot of boxcars in his childhood which shows that he was daring as a young adult. His experiences begin to escalate into exciting and interesting incidences and aspects of his life. Then he says "I am the man," a strong tone of confidence strikes the poem. But what becomes confusing is when he starts to refer himself as the most random things like, "I am a bank of a song." Now the reoccurring line "I am leading a quiet life" changes in meaning, revealing a humble attitude and leaving the depressing tone. He concludes his poem almost arrogantly but godly at the same time, generally saying that he can do anything he can. His saying of a "quiet life" is merely his sarcasm speaking.