Urban Living

The narrator in Barbarese’s poem “Walk Your Body Down” sets the scene in the first few lines, making it clear that this is an urban setting. The narrator does so not by talking about groups of people but by insinuating that he is sitting in the midst of strangers, who do not appear happy. The narrator is aware of an argument going on by two people near him; he suspects they are breaking up. The narrator’s mention of a ramp, a man walking in the street, and “caskets of neighborhoods,” all convey the city setting. The poet seems to be saying that people are in proximity in the city, but that does not mean they relate to one another or feel connected as a group.

Isolation and Loneliness

A sense of isolation and loneliness pervades this poem. First, there...