Forms, accident reports and eyewitness reports ACTIVITY 5


Work in pairs. Read the poem below and then answer the questions.


Auto Wreck by Karl Shapiro Glossary


artery – extremely important vein in the body banal resolution – usual (unoriginal)decision cargo – goods carried on a ship, truck or aircraſt composed – calm, collected, methodical convalescents – people recovering from an illness denouement – final part of a play, film, story in which matters are explained or resolved, e.g. what happened, why it happened, and who or what caused it to happen deranged – disturbed, very upset douches – rinses or washes away expedient – easy to forget gauche – unsophisticated and socially awkward grim joke – sick joke husks – the dry outer covering of some fruits or seeds illuminated – brightly lit up leap – to jump forcefully mangled – ripped and torn occult – supernatural beliefs physics – physical things pond – little dam saw – something which is oſten said; a saying or remark sneer – in a mocking way splints – strips of hard material for supporting a broken bone when it has been set stowed – packed away tourniquets – tight bandages to prevent bleeding


And down the dark one ruby flare Pulsing out red light like an artery, Te ambulance at top speed floating down Past beacons and illuminated clocks Wings in a heavy curve, dips down,


And brakes speed, entering the crowd. Te doors leap open, emptying light;


Stretchers are laid out, the mangled lifted And stowed into the little hospital. Ten the bell, breaking the hush, tolls once.


And the ambulance with its terrible cargo Rocking, slightly rocking, moves away, As the doors, an afterthought, are closed.


We are deranged, walking among the cops Who sweep glass and are large and composed.


One is still making notes under the light. One with a bucket douches ponds of blood Into the street and gutter. One hangs lanterns on the wrecks that cling, Empty husks of locusts, to iron poles.


Our throats were tight as tourniquets, Our feet were bound with splints, but now, Like convalescents intimate and gauche, We speak through sickly smiles and warn With the stubborn saw of common sense,


Te grim joke and the banal resolution. Te traffic moves around with care, But we remain, touching a wound Tat opens to our richest horror. Already old, the question Who shall die? Becomes unspoken Who is innocent?


For death in war is done by hands; Suicide has cause and stillbirth, logic; And cancer, simple as a flower, blooms. But this invites the occult mind,


Cancels our physics with a sneer, And spatters all we knew of denouement Across the expedient and wicked stones.


15 10


5


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25


30


35


FutureManagers


29


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