Australian Poets

The particular poem that I have decided to present today gave Wright’s second book its title and was admittedly written by Wright for her husband whilst she was pregnant with his child. The poem’s title ‘Woman to May’ has several connotations at first glance. Once could interpret it as a woman bestowing certain gifts to a man, specifically sexual favours. Or perhaps the title is a comp0arison or even a challenge between …

…compliments the metaphors and imagery. It’s like a song, beginning bold, building up, but ending in a quiet tone, making the reader reflect about the celebration of life and love and creation conveyed in ‘Woman to Man’. Its quality as a poem has ensured its status as one of the better poems in Australian literature. The sensitive handling of a topic that has a universal relevance among women is a credit to Judith Wright.