Women

“Women” is a free-verse poem, as it has no discernible rhyme scheme or meter. The poem is one stanza, consisting of 26 short lines. Each line has only one to five words, or no more than six syllables; as a result, the shape of the poem seems to sway in and out. The nouns that emphasize the main features of the women’s efforts, such as “step” (Line 4), “hands” (Line 6), and “armies” (Line 13), occupy their own lines. The beginning of each line is made significant with capitalization, but the only end punctuation is a period that comes at the finale of the poem, making the entire piece feel like one long breath. Walker uses enjambment with complete thoughts carrying on from line to line. For example, enjambment appears in the three lines it takes Walker to discuss one of the women’s domestic chores: “And ironed / Starched white / Shirts” (Lines 9-11), compelling the reader to reflect on each word before reading or speaking the next to complete the thought.