I can't understand this poem.Please somebody helps me interpret it or analyse...

avril_the_vamp

New member
its talking about how women now have a more dominating role in a relationship when compared to the past.

the "Dragged his prey home by the hair" refers to the time of the cavemen, where men "hunted" for partners by practically kidnapping women. they would club them over the head with a weapon, knocking them unconscious and taking them home to consummate their relationship.

"they were "rescued" as maidens in distress, a problems most most males could address." refers to fairy tales of medieval times, where princesses, or "damsels in distress", would be rescued by a prominent male character or daring prince.

"Then women began to use their guile. When hunted,they'd willingly smile" means that women watched and waited until they had their chance to make a move to better themselves from the terrible control of male superiority. Up until about 80 or 90 years ago when the women's movement hit America, women were treated like subordinates and inferiors by most men because it was socially accepted. after the country saw how capable women really were when they had to take on more strenuous jobs during world war I, women gained the right to vote, and since then, have gained more social freedom, allowing us to have more powerful position on a social scale equal to men.

Now, women have become far more dominating, and sometimes play the more dominant role in a relationship. They now "play vamp" (meaning that they openly and verbally express interest in a man by flirting first) "When out hunting them at night" possibly meaning at a bar or night club "waiting to pounce,waiting to bite" <--- refers directly to the "vamp" explanation.

the last two paragraphs are rather self explanatory, that men are now weaker in this day and age than ever before and women are finally on top of the "social food chain"
 
...each paragraph for me please.? Here's the poem.Please interpret each paragraph for me.I'm foriegn.


"WHO THE PRAY<WHO THE HUNTED"

Man of old,with time to spare
Dragged his prey home by the hair
He'd take her home for him to keep,
the man the lion the women the sheep

Things didn't change over the years,
though women weren't caught by hair,
they were "rescued" as maidens in distress,
a problems most most males could address.

Then women began to use their guile.
When hunted,they'd willingly smile,
and somehow the roles were reversed.
Women the hunter,man trapped and hersed.

When out hunting them at night,
waiting to pounce,waiting to bite,
women-war-painted to the hilt
head askew,and eyes a-tilt.

The"hunter" is now the unsuspecting prey
unprepared to battle the fray
He'd be caught if his guard is drown.
It's the oldest story in town.

Modern man in times today
Not much to do,less to say,
she'll take him home for her to keep,
the woman the lion,the man-the sheep.
 
I think it is talking about sexism and men and women's behavior to each other.

The first paragraph is saying how men in times of old used to drag their women home and have complete control over them. The man is the lion and the woman is the sheep. probably about the stone age.

The second paragraph says how things didn't change and although women weren't dragged by the hair they were rescued like they couldn't fend for themselves. About fairytale period ie Rapunzel and Sleeping beauty.

The third paragraph says how women began to become more clever so when caught the would smile and the roles of Hunter (man) and Prey(woman) were swapped around occasionally.

The Fourth paragraph says how women began to become the hunter hunting men at night waiting to capture them.

the Fifth paragraph says how the original hunter (man) has unwillingly become the prey. he is now unprepared to battle women and he is caught if he is not on the look out.

The Sixth paragraph says exactly the same as the first but men and women are swapped round. The woman the lion the man the sheep. modern time
 
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