"A Man I Knew"

In “A Man I Knew,” Margaret Levine sets a sad and detached tone, using symbolism, simile, and syntax to describe a former loved one with all of the wrong priorities. The title denotes that this was someone Margaret used to be close with, perhaps an ex-lover. The symbolism begins with the first line, where the reader is introduced to the man by understanding that he has “a condo.” A condo is usually a luxurious apartment, so this man is about his material possessions. Next, there is a maid who “comes every other week.” Why would he need someone cleaning once every two weeks? This is a symbol of disloyalty and sexual promiscuity, which the man seems to be fond of. Finally, there is the symbol of “kids...on the dresser...like a boat.” His kids don’t visit him, and this simile of a boat represents his broken relationship with them. He views them as just another of his material possessions, and they float around because their relationship is adrift and he rarely sees them. Finally, the syntax of the poem is very strange. It has short and fragmented stanzas, and I think this represents the man’s torn familial relationships and incomplete, unfulfilling lifestyle.