Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | ||||||||
"Sexual Selection Among Birds" is a poem by Marge Piercy, an American poet, novelist, and social activist. The poem was published in 1973 in her poetry collection titled "Living in the Open." Plot Explanation: The poem is about the evolutionary concept of sexual selection, which is the process by which certain physical traits in animals become more prevalent over time due to their attractiveness to potential mates. The poem portrays the competitive nature of the mating game and the persistence of desire in the face of rejection. Piercy uses the example of male birds with bright plumage and elaborate courtship displays to illustrate this concept. She contrasts this with the way human society often values material possessions and superficial appearance over substance and character. Poetic Elements:
Conclusion: "Sexual Selection Among Birds" is a thought-provoking poem that explores the idea of sexual selection in nature and how it contrasts with human society's values. Piercy uses vivid imagery and metaphors to make a commentary on the importance of character and substance over superficial appearance and possessions. Poem Snippet: "the choice of the mate in its finest sense is the choice of the best of what one is" Copyright (c) 2024 PoetryExplorer | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOW TO KNOW LOVE FROM DECEIT by WILLIAM BLAKE THE FARM CHILD'S LULLABY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 101. THE ONE HOPE by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI ODES: BOOK 2: ODE 14. THE COMPLAINT by MARK AKENSIDE THE GODODDIN: THE DEATH OF HOEL by ANEIRIN AT SENLIS ONCE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN LOUISA; A TALE by JANE BOWDLER |
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