Courtship by Mark Strand

There is a girl you like so you tell her
your penis is big, but that you cannot get yourself
to use it. Its demands are ridiculous, you say,
even self-defeating, but to be honored, somehow,
briefly, inconspicuously in the dark.

When she closes her eyes in horror,
you take it all back. You tell her you're almost
a girl yourself and can understand why she is shocked.
When she is about to walk away, you tell her
you have no penis, that you don't

know what got into you. You get on your knees.
She suddenly bends down to kiss your shoulder and you know
you're on the right track. You tell her you want
to bear children and that is why you seem confused.
You wrinkle your brow and curse the day you were born.

She tries to calm you, but you lose control.
You reach for her panties and beg forgiveness as you do.
She squirms and you howl like a wolf. Your craving
seems monumental. You know you will have her.
Taken by storm, she is the girl you will marry. 

 

This poem is extremely funny, and what is so ironic is that Strand uses the title, "Courtship". When first looked at it would seem this poem is about a romantic affair in which a lady is courted. However, once read this is obviously not the case. He uses abnormal line breaks "that you don't/ know what got into you." It shows the speaker thinking on the spot, the awkwardness of the situation, and as he tries to scramble around for something to say to win the girl over. He also uses second person, which allows readers to feel as though they are within the poem. It could be releatable to many men (i'm assuming) and by adding the "you" aspect Strand accentuates the awkwardness and horribleness of the situation.