Question

Read the poem below and complete the instruction that follows.

“In My Mother’s House”
by Gloria G. Murray

every wall
stood at attention
even the air knew
when to hold its breath
the polished floors
looked up
defying heel marks
the plastic slipcovers
crinkled in discomfort

in my mother’s house
the window shades
flapped
against the glare
of the world
the laughter
crawled like roaches
back into the cracks

even the humans sat—
cardboard cut-outs
around the formica
kitchen table
and with silver knives
sliced and swallowed
their words

Source: Murray, Gloria G. “In My Mother’s House.” Poet Lore 99.1 (2005). Poetry Foundation. Web. 18 July 2011.

 

Identify the subject and mood of the poem. Discuss how the poet’s use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism contribute to the reader’s understanding.

Answer 1

Would you like to live in a place like that? Could you stand it? So neat, so tidy, so filled with discomfort, so inhospitable.

You walk into the place and all laughter dies. Are you a teenager? Could you go to a friend's house where there a giggle would be a signal perhaps to leave.

The giggle passes, now you notice how still it is. The air is putrid. It may not smell foul, but it is.

Everything is uncomfortable. You almost wish you didn't have to sit down because when you do, the plastic covers are going to make noise in objection to your weight.

Nobody is real. The kitchen / dining room is a place for eating in silence; even swallowing is a chore.

Would you like such a place?