Jimmy, the Hideous Penguin Boy by Tim Burton

My name is Jimmy,

But my friends just call me

"The hideous penguin boy."

This is the entire poem. At first glance it looks cruel and pointless. Then you realize it addresses nicknames associated to a person's greatest flaw. However, there is a certain hint of love involved, since it is his friends or family calling him, "The hideous penguin boy." Maybe the nickname is more interesting than his regular name. Jimmy could be an interesting person or ugly and squat.

Still the name hurts. It is meant to put down; instead of, building up a person's self image. Jimmy's friends and family must be hurtful pessimists who enjoy tearing at each other and Jimmy goes along with everyone else. Understanding Jimmy is developing an overly critical and pessimistic viewpoint on life at a young age. We should still feel sorry for him.

It is sad when people are hardly given a chance in life. Even when recognizing they have low self-esteem because they were always told how awful they were growing up, they can't help passing on the same angst they suffered from.

I am focusing on analyzing on Tim Burton's poems that I like. It is more productive. Burton has a sense of style to his writing, though focusing on the inhumane aspects of humanity. The reader has to find sweetness. Often it is buried and still bitter.

Quirky Books
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories by Tim Burton

Brie Boy by Tim Burton

Tim Burton did okay on this poem. It reminds me of the cautionary tales of the 1600s. The parable is, more or less, to avoid people who will not treat you well.

Brie Boy is having dreams about losing him self. Turning from a large cheese wheel, but after every slice he is a wedge, because other people ate him into nothing. "But at least he went well with a nice Chardonnay."

The story it self reminds me of a child that is considered to be talented. People treat him differently because they don't understand him or they are jealous.

The child believes if he shares his talent with everyone then he won't be so special and they will like him. However, this isn't what happens. They simply take the ideas until he is no longer important and leave him without anything. Now he isn’t special. They still don't like him. He is used up and worthless. Popular people are still popular and took away the things making him different.

People generally gain this defense when they are young and carry it into their professional life. Everyone wants to keep secrets to them self, so no one else does as well as they do. Therefore, their job is safe.

I have read business books that claim by sharing your ideas and mentoring others you will be move up in the company. From personal experience, it seems more like you have a good idea and your boss takes credit for it. They move up in the company and you're still creepy.

This poem appeals to everyone across the board. Though I don't have proof, I believe everyone relates to Brie Boy.

Quirky Books
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories by Tim Burton