Tone Reveals Theme in "The Woman in this Poem"

In "The Woman in this Poem" written by Bronwen Wallace, the tone is very angry, regretful and tempting. Through tone the readers learn of the sad desperation of a lady living a lie in the suburbs. The tone is essential to the theme of carpe diem. This woman dreams of living for today and being carefree; however she is trapped by her priorities. The reader can see that the tone is angry when the speaker states “ the woman in this poem offends us,” and “we want to hate this woman.” The tone is seen as regretful through lines such as “all through dinner her mouth will laugh and chatter while she walks with her lover on a beach somewhere.” The tone is also tempting, the reader understands this when they read “come to me he pleads I need you and the woman reaches for the phone to dial the airport.”

The lady’s kitchen is spotless as her life. Imaging running away with her lover she is brought back to reality by her family. The reader is watching the woman grow old. There is a sad truth to this poem from different viewpoints. The reader may wish that the children were more appreciative to their mother. We wish that the husband was more loving and devoted to his wife, to make her realize how loved she really is. The lady has everything. She feels as if her life is unfulfilled/ surrounded by white walls that she desires to splatter color all over them. She wishes to scream out loud that this is not the life she wishes to live. “As she stands there” waiting for her life to start, watching it go by in pictures of dentist appointments and soccer practices. Lines like “not knowing her life drips through her drop by measured drop” show the reader how desperate she is to escape. Throwing caution into the wind is not an option for this woman. To cease the day in this woman’s life consists of completing her everyday house wife duties. She lives for her family, not for herself.

Although there is horrible incidents and tragic stories in our world, this poem reminds people not to demise other people’s problems. Although this woman is financially satisfied she is truly unhappy. Her fancy kitchen covers how she deeply feels. The depression in her life make readers ache for her. Most of all, fewer than none woman could easily relate to this poem. A wealthy life does not necessarily mean a content life.