Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Independent Man

The Independent Man


Now who could take you off to tiny life
In one room or in two rooms or in three
And cork you smartly, like the flask
of wine
You are? Not any woman.
Not a wife.
You'd let her twirl you,
give her a good glee

Showing your leaping ruby to a friend.
Though twirling would be meek.
Since not a cork
Could you allow, for being made
so free.

A woman would be wise to think it well
If once a week you only rang the bell.

This poem focuses on the objectification of women (described as a ruby) during the time of slavery. I think that the poem talks about slave women being raped by their masters, and used for their friends as well. I think that the symbolism of the cork is that it is an airy material, with lots of holes and low density implying lightness and freeness.

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