Mark O'Brien Assignment 1

         Ludvigson makes an allusion to the "American Dream" by using authors from the time period such as Fitzgerald.  Ludvigson stated, "Sinclair Lewis's name comes up, and then Kay Boyle's, and then Fitzgerald's.  They disagree about the American Dream."  A topic of conversation is posed which puts an idea in the reader's head.  Ludvigson is starting the poem by showing that a somewhat intellectual and riveting discussion is happening between who we think are the man and the woman sitting close to each other.  The theme that I interpret from the poem is romantic.  Because the writer is composing this poem from the position of their child, trying to convince themselves that their parents were in love.  The conversation is entertaining through the topic of the American dream,  they are gesturing as if excited, and they take a romantic walk home instead of merely driving.  All of this seems ridiculous when looking at the painting, and seeing two still and almost lifeless figures next to each other.