The true nature of promises
In the poem entitled "OFFERINGS’’, the narrator discusses the true nature of promises and how at times they can have no value at all. It is unclear who makes the promises in the poem mentioned above but it is clear that the person making them does not want to fulfill them. Instead of showing how an unfulfilled promise can make a person feel disappointed, the narrator choses instead to show how in those instances, some people may feel the need and the drive to move forward and to fight even more for what they want. Thus, unfulfilled promises are not necessary presented as something negative in the poem, but rather as something inevitable which can help a person grow and develop at a much rapid rate.
Possible ways to deal with problems
The poem entitled "IF YOUR MIRROR BREAKS’’ deals with the possibility of problems accruing in a person’s life. As the narrator points out, these events can happen at any time, to any person and thus we all have to think of possible ways to overcome those problems. Even though the breaking of the mirror or the appearance of problems is described as being inevitable, the narrator points out that there is always a way out. However, the narrator does not transmit the idea that those problems will be resolved immediately. Instead, he makes the reader aware of how at times, a person may need to be patient for some years before things turn for the better. This theme is also the major theme in the poem "WHERE THER’S A WALL’’, in which the narrator presents different ways a person could overcome the problems they encounter in their lives.
The path to a happy relationship
In the poem entitled "NOTE TO A GENTELMAN’’, the narrator addresses a man, giving him various pieces of advice on how to make sure he will have a happy relationship with his wife. The author focuses on two ideas: time and communication. Thus, the first advice is to spend as much time with the wife as possible. Then, the narrator stresses the importance of communication, showing how without it, a relationship is doomed to fail. The poem is not an extensive one and the theme chosen as the main one stands out from the rest of the common themes found in the rest of the poems. Still, the general style of the poem is maintained and so the poem in question is constructed in a way through which the narrator offers advice to the reader.
