Introduction of the Poem:
This poem appears in Ezekiel's Collected Poems (1989). It is about a woman who ensnares and discards men, regardless of how deeply they love her. She is a sorceress who attracts men and the poet, despite his reservations, is drawn to her . It appears as if she is keeping a record of her lovers.
Critical Summary:
Lines 1-4:
The poet watches a woman walk away with one of his friends or acquaintances. When he saw her with other men later the poet felt that the woman was bold and forward, but at the same time kind to the male sex. She gathered them around her like a child collecting shells on the seashore. No matter how sincerely and deeply they loved her; she put them aside after sometime. She discarded them in her quest of gathering more male - admirers and lovers.
Lines 5-8:
But the poet was not critical or judgmental as he found no evil or any diabolical designs in her eyes. It was, however, uncommon to come across such a woman who freely distributed her love to all and sundry and, after her “nights of joy”, discarded them.
Lines 9-12:
The poet was also drawn to her as he could not keep a sufficient distance from her. He was attracted to her “quickened breath” as she laughed like a magician dressed provocatively, drawing men to her and keeping them aside after tantalizing them.
Lines 13-16:
The poet got closer to her despite his reservations about her nature. He made love to her and released her afterwards as he knew that she couldn't remain tied down to any particular male. She loved men and abandoned them as if she were keeping a record of her conquests by enticing them and collecting them as trophies.
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