Figurative Language: Irony and Paradox

Cartoon Physics part 1 by Nick Flynn is a poem that tells us that

children deserve to be ignorant of adult problems and the harsh realities of life.
Children deserve to be able to use their imaginations and enjoy a simpler view
of the universe. In connection to that, they should stick to simple cartoon
conflicts, and things where they can be in control like playing with toy cars in a
sandbox. This poem symbolizes the innocence that we have at youth.
The poem begins with the author discussing the realities of the universe
such as galaxies swallowed by galaxies, solar systems collapsing and the
universe is ever-expanding. These things that are ruled over by the rules of
physics and other natural sciences are things that children should not learn
about. Instead of these cold hard facts what children should learn about are the
rules of cartoon animation. This part of the poem is actually in contracts with
the penultimate lines of the poem wherein the author talks of a child playing in
a sandbox knowing exactly when misfortune or good luck would occur. The
image feels calm and fun while the first imagethat of the cold, sterile universe
feels apathetic and inevitable. This seems to show how being ignorant like a
child seems more wonderful than being an adult. Everything the children look
at, they look at wonder, awe and curiosity. But then again, curiosity killed the
cat.
The second image actually also seems ironic because how can a child or
anybody for that matter know of the future? But this is actually possible for the
child because she is playing make-believe! While a child lets her imagination
play out she is the god of that world; she can do anything she wants to do and
be wants she wants to be. She can be an invincible superhero that could save
people trapped on burning houses, car wrecks and sinking ships or be the god
that controls over the world she created. I, too used to think that I could be a
hero and save the world with water-bending and well, not get hurt. In reality,
however this is not exactly true and this is the sad reality in life; no matter who
you are and what you have, nature is merciless. Like how the cat was killed by
his curiosity, the innocence and naivety of children are killed by the harsh cold
facts of reality.

One line that really sticks out from the poem was She will learn that if a
man runs off the edge of a cliff he will not fall until he notices his mistake.
because this reminded me of so many cartoons, having characters float in midair until they realize their situation and, well, fall. Although humorous, this
scene is actually quite sad. It indicates the unpredictability of life; whether a
person is aware or not, good or bad events would still happen. This line also
strikes me because they only fall when they realize their mistakes, which
reminds me a scene in Bugs Bunny wherein Bugs continued to walk in air to
reach another cliff without realizing anything. The effect of gravity only works
when you realize it. You only know you have made a mistake when you are
taught what is right and what is wrong. Thus the fall one experiences is an
effect of our innocence and imagination tarnished by the harsh truths of reality.
Flynns ultimate message in the poem is to let children remain as children: they
need not know that galaxies are swallowed by other galaxies.
Jiara Laine Montao
R69