Review of Christine Gosnay’s poem ‘Apology’

 Christine Gosnay’s poem ‘Apology’

I request the readers to please read the poem from the above link first and then only my review. Thanks.

‘Apology’ is a satire. A reader finds everything modern in a satire - subtlety, sarcasm, abstractness and humor. Each stanza sarcastically highlights what a female is unable to accept most of typical masculine traits or outlook. Let’s appreciate the sarcasms on male mind one by one:

The first stanza finds a male mind ‘likes to go into a thing and never come out’

Stanza 2: ‘It has an elaborate custom of waking in a new place every morning.’

Stanzas 3 & 4: It will camp each night at a new place with the simplest amenities and ignite and put off the fire casually.

Stanzas 5to8: Male psychology deals with the past and its imprints on the mind very crudely, and it is obvious the past mistakes are going to be repeated shamelessly with a whole new explanation!

Last 3 stanzas: With a band of sycophants the male mind goes on a quest of materialistic or image-centric possessions or achievements; in the rush to the goal crushing anyone’s sensitivity.

When the reader completes reading the poem, she is able to understand the poem is not judgmental on men as a whole, or attempts to brand the psychology of men with these sarcastic attributes. The tone in which she poetically narrates the hurts to her by men is unique and very subtle. Addressing the dreams of the female partner and respect for her sensitivities may probably never be a part of a man’s priorities. Still relationships flourish and break up and rarely last too!