Poetry · Chapter
Lover's Return explained
A deserted woman recounts the return of her old lover, who appears sick and lonely.
What happens
A deserted woman recounts the return of her old lover, who appears sick and lonely. Despite her initial sympathy, she recalls the mistreatment she endured and ultimately rejects him, driven by a devilish resolve.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Loss
The poem explores the pain of a lover's return after abandonment, highlighting the emotional toll and the eventual rejection.
Resilience and Joy
The narrator's final resolve to reject her lover demonstrates a form of resilience, choosing self-preservation over vulnerability.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Ma old time daddy Came back home last night. His face was pale an’ His eyes didn’t look just right.”
My former lover returned home last night, looking pale and unwell.
The lover's return is marked by physical decline, setting the stage for the narrator's conflicted emotions.
“O, men treats women Just like a pair o’ shoes. I say treats women Like a pair o’ shoes—, They kicks ’em round an’ Does ’em like they choose.”
Men treat women like shoes, kicking them around and using them as they please.
The narrator voices a bitter critique of male mistreatment, comparing women to disposable objects.
“But de devil told me Damn a lover Comes home to die!”
But the devil told me to curse a lover who returns only to die.
The narrator's inner demon urges her to reject her dying lover, emphasizing her hardened resolve.