Poetry Ch. 10 Tone (4)

"We held on tight, and let go." (896)

This quote ends the poem "Getting Out" by Cleopatra Mathis. This quote is a paradox, which describes the paradoxical meaning of the whole poem. The first two stanzas describe the problems with the marriage and the downhill plummet it was making. The final stanza contradicts the first two stanzas by implying that they still love each other, but they have to split up. The contradictory and paradoxical combination of the three stanzas gives readers a truth about their relationship. To me, this truth is that they still love each other, but they need time to grow up and out. They need to discover themselves before they can be together. The paradox of the whole poem is summed up in the last line (quoted above) because they are still holding on to each other inside, but for the good of both parties, they must go their separate ways and let go. They truly loved each other because they cried the last day they say each other. They loved each other enought to let the other go. I liked this poem because it made sense and told a story. The paradox made it interesting and kept the suspense going until the end.