TPCASTT Template
“Miracle Ice Cream”Title
/ The title suggests that the poem focuses on a special type or special dish of ice cream. Perhaps the ice cream has been attributed to something really special in the speaker’s life, thus giving it the name “miracle ice cream.”
Paraphrase
/ The ice cream truck rolls down my street,
Ragtime music is playing behind it,
And it’s easy to be happy
With a fraction of a heart.
Take what you can: in the shadow of a room,
A woman bends, her breasts oscillate gently.
When it’s early, appreciate the new day starting.
When it’s late, you can enjoy the news,
The miracle of fast food, and the dreams that occupy the night,
For those things can complete your heart.
Connotation
/ The “little avenue” from line 1 is described as being little so that it is seen as simple and quaint. “Pearls” are used to describe the ragtime music that plays to give it a light, elegant feel.
In line 5, the room is given a “rich shadow” to a) make the tone a hint darker and b) to give it a special characteristic that would make it easy to appreciate.
Attitude
/ The speaker maintains a positive and optimistic attitude throughout the first half of the poem; she is explaining to the reader that there are several ways to be happy with your life, even if you don’t feel complete.
Shift
/ In the first stanza, the speaker maintains a light, cheery tone by describing simple, innocent things like an ice cream truck and ragtime music playing in the background. The second half is still optimistic, yet the tone becomes just slightly
Title revisited
/ Now, after reading the poem, I think the title is explaining not a miraculous serving of ice cream, but rather that miracles come in simple forms. For example, the poem finds miracles in fast-food and the evening news, and the title points out that miracles can be commonplace and even in your own household. If you treat simple items as such, you can lead a very happy and fulfilling life.
Theme / The central theme of this poem that I detected was that of irrepressible joy that one can obtain if he/she can find miracles in everyday things. If you are happy with the little things, you can be happy with everything.