Remora, Remora: Precis

In the poem, "Remora, Remora," by Thomas Lux, Lux uses metaphors to set a helpless or maybe even a hopeless tone as the shark represents the lower classed people. The author uses the shark and sucker sharks as metaphors for the higher classed or yet, higher powered people, while the lower classed people are represented by the metaphorical "nick of gauze" for they are called the "morons," "idiots," "imbeciles," or "nincompoops." The poet seems to feel helpless when he calls himself "the invisible point of the pyramid," meaning he feels as if he has no power or authority because people think of the lower class as "idiots" or "morons." Lux sets a helpless tone when each shark metaphor creates a smaller and smaller feeling of authority for the lesser classed/lesser powered. By using sharks as his metaphors, Lux was able to convey a feeling of helplessness in his poem.