SOAPStone

Miss Rosie
by Lucille Clifton
when I watch you

wrapped up like garbage

sitting, surrounded by the smell

of too old potato peels

or

when I watch you

in your old man's shoes

with the little toe cut out

sitting, waiting for your mind

like next week's grocery

I say

when I watch you

you wet brown bag of a woman

who used to be the best looking gal in Georgia

used to be called the Georgia Rose

I stand up

through your destruction

I stand up

(SOAPStone + Theme)

Speaker: Who is the speaker of the poem? What do you know about him or her?

I feel that the speaker is a women who cares greatly about this other lady, who is just wasting away. I feel as though she is there for her through all of this and will always be there for her.
Occasion: What is the occasion of the poem? What is the event that prompts the speaker to speak?

I think that the occasion is this women's destruction. She is wasting herself away to nothing and she can't stand to see it. She thinks she is more than what she is making herself. This feeling of sadness is making her write, she is standing up through her self destruction and she has to write about it.

Audience: To whom is the speaker speaking? What do you know about him or her?

I think that she is speaking to the lady that she cares about. I don't know what sort of relationship it is but it is definitely a powerful one and she wants to tell her that she is there for her.

Purpose: What is the purpose of the poem? Why do you think the poet wrote the poem?

I think the purpose of this poem was to relieve some sort of built up feeling for the poet. I think that Lucille wrote this poem to relieve her, sadness, maybe anger. She wanted to let it out and tell this women that this isn't who you are. That she used to be a beautiful Rose and now she wasted away to a wet brown bag.

Subject: What is the subject of the poem?

I think the subject of the poem was the women who used to be a Georgia Rose.

Tone: What is the tone of the poem? What is the speaker’s attitude toward the subject of the poem?

Her attitude almost comes with confusion. She is obviously not happy with what has happened to this women and I don't think she really knows what has happened to her... She has just changed...

Theme: What is the theme of the poem? What is the poet pointing out about people, society, or life?

State the theme succinctly.

Change, wonder, confusion, sadness and courage. I feel that all five of those words are the theme of this poem. There was the change in the women, from a Rose to a wet bag. I think that she wonders what has happened, where did the time go? I think that she is confused and sad at the same time, but then comes in courage. She is saying that she has stood up. She is standing while she's destructing. I feel that she is saying the she is there. I think she is pointing out that while some people waste away doing unhealthy things, letting themselves become nothing, there are still people who will stand through the destruction. They can help and change things because they are strong enough to stand.