'Hotel Room, Twelfth Floor' is a very thought provoking poem that the poet, Norman Macaig successfully identifies what he believes is wrong with human nature. In this poem the poet describes how he views one of the largest cities in the world, New York. He believes that mans evolution in wealth and achievement has shrouded another aspect of evolution that has never improved. This of course is mans ability to be so cruel and violent to one another. In this poem Norman Macaig uses the contrast between day and night to show how human behaviour is affected when people are put into civilized surroundings (New York during the day). When night falls in the poet explores the hidden side of human nature.
             In the first stanza the poet describes his view from his hotel room that is overlooking New York. During the day the poet describes some of man's greatest achievements; a helicopter skirting like a damaged insect. This simile is used to compare a helicopter to an insect. This comparison is very effective in conveying the sound, appearance and distance of the helicopter. However, the use of the word 'skirting' creates some uneasiness. This suggests that the poet is not very sure of this piece of technology. He then goes on to say that it appears 'damaged' this suggests pain and shows that the poet is not very impressed by this piece of technology. This idea is continued when the poet describes the empire state building (a symbol of man's great achievements) to a 'jumbo sized dentist drill'. This comparison clearly shows that the poet is trying to belittle technology. The very fact that the poet choose to compare it to a dentist drill, something that people generally do not like makes it seem apparent that he does not like it. These two comparisons clearly show that the writer is not impressed by technology that symbolizes wealth and achievement.
             The writer introduces this dark side of...