Summary

The speaker describes the unborn child growing in their womb. The child is carefree and joyful, bare-headed in their watery home. They wrap themselves silently in their own umbilical cord throughout the speaker’s pregnancy, slowly growing and rising towards life. The child remains mysterious, though the speaker eagerly awaits their birth; their unborn baby feels comfortable and at home in the womb, even though their presence is unfamiliar. As they grow, they become more active and lifelike. Although they haven’t yet faced the world or formed their own experience, the baby has their own personality.

Analysis

The poem’s title, “You’re,” acts as its first line as well as an implied or extended anaphora. This means that it’s included silently at the start of each line; for example, “You’re clownlike,” “You’re wrapped up in yourself,” and so forth...