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.
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Comments
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From guest SMar (contact)
ummm well this poem wasn't in the time of slavery cause Gwendolyn Brooks wasn't even alive in that time and i think the ruby is a symbol a guy showing off his girl to his friend and not actully meaning a ruby -
Opinion
From guest Jenn (contact)
I personally believe that this poem is a man addressing his mistress.. maybe a woman who isn't as rich as he and she is showing off her brand new ruby ring.. however I don't believe the man has any kind of respect for her in fact I believe that he degrades her by not giving an answer to what she is. He thinks that she is free however we know from a look back on history that no woman was free. -
I'm not sure what exactly this poem is talking about. It was set in the time of slavery, and so therefore I think it is about a woman who is struggling with being a wife, a slave and a woman. The man in her life is not treating her with the upmost respect.
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My personal view
This poem was, I think, firmly rooted in the twentieth century and is more about marriage than slavery (although marriage can be a type of slavery). Should a woman have a husband and a wedding ring --Showing your leaping ruby to a friend -- or merely an occasional male visitor (an independent man)
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