Quote:
Originally posted by Lee Gurga:
in fact, i believe other readings are possible. here's one: the pregnancy is completely unexpected and that the 'he' of the poem has been ambushed, after a fashion: he is at her place and she has given him something to eat (please note only one bowl)to settle him in for the news. so please choose which reading you would like--or perhaps even another.
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Hi Lee,
Yes, I can see it. And yes, "empty" makes perfect sense in that case.
It's a funny thing: we sometimes get attached to our own readings of poems as much as we get attached to our poems. I guess my thing with "empty" was just that it seemed to close off (or at least, leave less room for) the interpretation of the poem that
I preferred. I wanted to see it as a happy "expectant" scene, and "empty" seemed to preempt that possibility. (I can't get away from the puns this morning, it seems.) As you say though, the poem may have other designs entirely--or at least, be every bit as determined to open itself to multiple readings as readers are determined to find their own preferred interpretation. And that's always a point well taken.
Anyway, as for turds in the pool, watch out! We're a regular flotilla of them around here.
Ducking out!
Steve C.