Human Condition by Thom Gunn

The first thing you notice about this poem is the way it is set up. In every stanza there are 6 lines and the lines are relatively short. There is also a interesting rhyme pattern of A, B, C, B,C, A. The combination of these things makes for an interesting rhythm. When you read the first line, there seems to be a rhythm, but as you keep reading, it seem as though the author is justing writing down thoughts and the rhyme scheme seems forgetten. The result is a little bit unsettling. I feel like I want to rhyme at different times than the author does and it makes me feel uncomfortable. This feeling goes very well with the idea of the poem which seems to be the discomfort the author feels with being exposed and alone. It is implied by the title that this feeling is a very normal and almost an expected part of living life and being a human.