The Great Gatsby

Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; 

If you can bounce high, bounce for her too, 

Till she speaks “Lover, gold hatted, high-bouncing lover, 

I must have you!” 

The preface to The Great Gatsby is a four lined poem written by Thomas Parke D’Inviller, a character from Scott F. Fitzgerald’s’ first quasi-autobiographical novel, The Side of Paradise. The epigraph above not only mocks Gatsby’s undignified and desperate approach to winning over Daisy, but also serves as advice to the reader; to impress someone, you must first flaunt your wealth. The use of “She” in the preface refers to Daisy: a prize that must be won or objectified as opposed to a person with actual feelings and ambitions. In addition, the preface to the novel echoes the novels plot; the absurd obsession Gatsby has towards Daisy.

The poem I wrote is a Found poem, created by selecting and rearranging words I found meaningful from the preface of The Great Gatsby. My poem is written in the perspective of Jay Gatsby to his one true love, Daisy Buchanan. In this poem, Gatsby is trying to win over Daisy by comparing her heart to gold. He uses repetition of similar sounds, alliteration, and stressed syllables to enhance his poem. 

To have a heart of gold 

Is to have a mind untold,

A stardust soul

To say more than you speak

Rather than speaking more than you say.  

A soul as old as Ancient Greek. 

To keep bouncing even when you are incredibly weak. 

Your empathy is undeniably unique. 

The dignified search far and wide for your kind 

Only to behold 

Your heart of gold must not be controlled.