Question

In the poem Question, by May Swenson the author the speaker is a man who worries what he will do when he loses the things that he considers to be most important to him. He dreads losing his horse, his dog and his house. He begins to imagine what his life would be like without these things that he holds so dear. The thought of losing his companions and his house saddens him deeply as it would anyone else. It is difficult to imagine life without the things you have grown to love and appreciate. The speaker tells the audience all of the things his dog, horse and house have done for him over the years that he has probably taken for granted. This reminiscing adds to the speakers appreciation for the things that he loves and makes him wonder where he would be without them.

I think the reason that this poem is so powerful is because it is something that everyone can relate to. The poem has a broad audience. Not everyone necessarily dreads losing the same things as the speaker, but everyone has something or someone that is important to the them that they would never want to imagine losing. For this reason, the message of the poem is universal.

The short stanzas of the poem are effective. It gives a voice to the poem and allows the reader to imagine that the speaker can barely utter these words because he does not want to imagine his life with the absence of his treasures. The questions also add to the poem. Through the questions the speaker is able to effectively share his thoughts with the audience and allow them to understand how important his dog, horse and house are. The questions show that he would be lost if he were to lose these things. The questions also help to place the reader in the speakers position allowing everyone to wonder, what would I do if I were to lose what I love?