In My Missouri
In My Missouri - meaning Summary
From Hurt to Hopeful
The poem traces the speaker's changing view of men through place-based memories. Starting with a violent, cold relationship in Missouri, the speaker moves through encounters with kinder, stronger men in Jackson and Oberlin. The tone shifts from resignation to cautious optimism, ending with a general lesson: men can be both good and bad, and women should continue seeking the right partner for themselves. It affirms personal experience and hopeful agency.
Read Complete AnalysesIn my Missouri I had known a mean man A hard man A cold man Gutting me and killing me Was an Ice man A tough man A man. So I thought I'd never meet a sweet man A kind man A true man One who in darkness you can feel secure man A sure man A man. But Jackson, Mississippi, has some fine men Some strong men Some black men Walking like an army were the sweet men The brown men The men. In Oberlin, Ohio, there were nice men Just men And fair men Reaching out and healing were the warm men Were good men The men. Now I know that there are good and bad men Some true men Some rough men Women, keep on searching for your own man The best man For you man The man.
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