Wife and Floating Maple Leaf Essay Example

In her use of imagery and metaphor, Rita Dove portrays the tension between obligation and the desire for freedom. In her poem "Daystar," Dove explores the internal conflict faced by a young woman who is both a mother and wife. Despite societal expectations for women to find fulfillment in these roles, the poem reveals the monotony and sorrow that can accompany this way of life.

In the opening of the poem, there is a depiction of diapers steaming on the line and a doll slumped behind the door. This serves as a metaphor for the speaker, who is also slumped over from exhaustion. The speaker finds solace behind the garage wher