Gift – Alice Walker

Gift – Alice Walker

Summary

The poem Gift is written by Alice Walker. He is one of the most acclaimed Afro American writers of Modern Times a gift is a symbol of affection or love or Goodwill what is given as gift is not so important as the intention and their motion with which it is given in this poem Alice Walker says that the lover believes that his lady has from created the position of his soul. The lady is more short then surprised upon hearing this she believes that the man has not given his soul but has only guarded it safely.

The poem starts with a lover giving away his heart/soul to his lady love. Though that lady was not interested in him she takes his soul lightly and keeps it aside as she belongs to the South side of the country. Here the poet tries to express his opinion regarding the ladies who belongs to the southern side of the country saying that they are very modest and very humble.
She keeps his heart as a mandate and thought to give it back as taken but later she will fall in love with his heart and every day her love two words that heart increases. When that lady completely falls in love with him, he returns to her and with an outrage voice is ask her to give back his heart/soul.

He says her beloved, that his heart is a trait (quality) and he did not noticed that before and that was the reason he wanted it back from her. the beloved/girl says him, that he never give her his heart/soul but, just kept it with her so as to safeguard it. she says him that he never believed her and never loved her and was very possessive about his heart and holded it so tightly that it shrinked to the size where in he could hold his heart in his hand.

This poem starts with love shown by a man towards his lover whom he considered as his life and Soul. Later, the poem ends with the possessive nature of a man with his heart and also portraits merciless and mean nature of the man towards his beloved.