Just based off the title itself, it is easy to see why Anne Sexton calls this poem a spoof. She does not want this to be a mystery to anyone who reads or listens to her poem, seeing as this is the first thing that she makes known to her audience in the recording, it is even said before the title. The first stanza of the poem then goes on to talk about how this project was somewhat of a secret. This is similar to how, in the Bible, though they were warned by Noah of the imposing flood, the people of Earth at the time felt so safe that Noah's Ark and its significance might as well have been a secret. Just like in the Bible, many different animals and necessities are prepared and taken onto this metaphorical ark, and the vessel is launched, just before the impending disaster. Sexton then goes on to confirm what was said before about the people of Earth not really caring about this ark to Venus. She says in an almost sarcastic sort of tone, "And parades assembled/ the loud earth tellers spent/ all fifteen minutes on it, even/shortened their weather forecast." Soon after the Earth is destroyed, though this time by man instead of God. Finally after seven months have passed(analogous to the seven days that the dove is released for in Noah's Ark), the animals are released onto Venus where they can flourish, just like Noah and his family did in the Bible. In the end, it seems that the roles have changed since Noah's Ark. This time, man acts as God while the animals act as man. After the Ark has landed the animals run off on their own, forgetting about the two men that saved them.
(( for some reason, the invitation to Chad's email did not work for him, so I'm posting this here until he gets it sorted out ))
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