Tone 3: Getting Out

"We held on tight, and let go." line 24

The poem begins with the simile, "walking like inmates." This immediately implies confinement and unhappiness. It seems that this couple was once very much in love, but when they began living together, tension grew. Its like they couldn't adjust to living in each others lives daily. This is reflected by the tone, which is one of stress and unhappiness. After awhile of trying to coexist, "exhausted, we gave up." The end of this poem is rather sad. The couple seems to have rushed their relationship to quickly. Maybe they didn't know everything they needed to know about each other before getting married. Despite the way the couple treated each other, I think they deeply cared for one another. I thought this from the line, "Yet I think of the lawyer's bewilderment when we cried, the last day." By the way the couple acted, the lawyer was shocked they had any feelings for each other at all. I think their parting was bittersweet. Even though they loved each other, they needed to be apart.