The Beauty of Change and Acceptance
In "St. Roach," the narrator details and explores her lengthy experiences with the cockroaches of St. Roach. She explains that she was always taught to hate and despise the roaches—and so she did. In her youth, she viewed them as vile, repulsive, and invasive. As she grew older and had her own children, she instilled these values and beliefs in them, as well—just as her parents had done for her. As the narrator grows older and obtains more wisdom, she begins to question why this hate for cockroaches was instilled in her. She becomes determined to learn for herself if they really are as vile and dirty as she’d been taught. Much to her surprise, the older narrator finds she is rather amused and entertained by the cockroaches; they are resourceful and determined. Upon realizing this true nature, the narrator makes a vow to dedicate more time to learning about and understanding the cockroaches’ nature, instead of blindly following the hateful rhetoric she’d been taught when she was younger. In this way, this entire poem is an allegory for the greater society. The narrator’s change of heart upon getting acquainted with the cockroaches is symbolic for the beautiful changes that occur when humans put aside their generations-long hate for one another and begin to accept and learn about the cultures, ideologies, and practices of others. This ability to change and accept ones’ own philosophies is both powerful and beautiful.
Sexual Exploration
“Orgy” is a poem about the many emotions and thoughts that are associated with periods of sexual exploration. In this particular encounter, the narrator describes how an unnamed man is going to engage in a threesome with two unnamed women. The entire poem is rife with youthful and excited nerves—the three individuals are clearly looking forward to the encounter, while still finding the whole experience to be a bit daunting. Though the narrator does not describe any of the intimate or explicit details regarding the sexual encounter, this is a poem about sexual vulnerability. These three individuals—who have presumably never met before—are all agreeing to consensually engage in a pre-planned sexual encounter for the sake of sexual exploration. This trio is using this experience to learn about themselves and others; to explore their sense of sexuality in a way that is vulnerable and exciting.
Betrayal of Foolishness
In “Waiting for Icarus,” the narrator recounts her relationship with a man, whom she has dubbed Icarus. Though the man’s name was likely not Icarus, the narrator chooses to represent him as this mythical, legendary, and very symbolic character, who embodies the very nature of foolishness. In the first stanza, the narrator recalls the many promises and words of adoration her Icarus bestowed upon her. These promises and adorations convinced her that her Icarus really did love and admire her. Icarus assures the narrator that he will return to her on the beach, as soon as he’s completed his flight with these waxen wings. She waits all day for his return and. When night falls, and she realizes he is not going to return, she feels a sense of deep betrayal, and wishes she could have worn the waxen wings. It is implied here that she feels great embarrassment and shame for having been so enamored with his empty promises, which were rendered useless by his foolishness and insistence upon flying with the waxen wings. She feels a sense of deep betrayal, all of which stems from both a sense of foolishness in herself, and the foolishness of her lover, her Icarus.
