American Poems on Social Problems - Essay Example

In (lines 17- 24) the mother cries out the guilt and pain of abortion; unborn children are robbed off their basic rights to live and do other common activities during a lifetime; 3. (lines 30,31) show how the mother tries to convince herself of the abortions; the first part of the poem addresses the mother and the later part addresses the child. It clearly shows how the mother takes abortion very seriously and wants to overcome the guilt and pain associated with it. The loss is even more painful and is clearly portrayed in the first part.

The second part convinces of the love the mother had for her aborted children. Title of the work: “Conversation” Author: Florence Ai Ogawa Characters and their symbolic use: 1. dead person conversing with the poet; this character is imaginary and is a metaphor for death; 2. the poet is yet another character who interacts with the dead person to know how death feels to be and what it is. Themes: 1. Death is the major theme in the poem; it talks about the experience of being dead.

Citations and how they fit the Argument: 1. (line 3) gives the theme of the poem; 2. (lines 5-7) say how powerful death is; the facts about death could burn a hole; 3. (lines 11, 12) brings out the fact that death strikes like an accident and is barely noticed till it arrives; 4. (lines 18-20) hint that death is unavoidable and inexplicable factor in each one’s life. Everyone born must die and the poet is made to realize it; 5. (lines 28-32) talk about how it feels to be dead. “Conversation” by Ai explores the experience of death.

It is a conversation between the poet and a dead person. Like a Dramatic Monologue, the poem captures the voice of the dead man and the response of the poet. Death is described as horrible; it is like an accident. The color of death is presented as blue. The truth about death is so powerful that it could cause holes on the floor. The poet is made to realize the universal truth that someday all the lives will snap. It is unavoidable and is the reality.