Margaret Atwood 2

Siren Song

This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song t
hat is irresistible:

the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see beached skulls

the song nobody knows
because anyone who had heard it
is dead, and the others can’t remember.
Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
I don’t enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical
with these two feathery maniacs,
I don’t enjoy singing
this trio, fatal and valuable.

I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song

is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique

at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.

After I TPCASTT-ed the poem 'Siren Song', i have came up with a conclusion.

Through the title, i predicted that it was going to be something about either fire, injury, hospitality, mermaids, male, chaos.

After finding all the context clues of this poem, i have came to the conclusion that the main message of this poem has something to do with the origin of the word siren. Once, my art hakwon teacher had told me this story of Greek mythology that the word siren actually came from monsterish mermaids. They would lure men who sail among the sea with a song, and when they come near, this creature would eat them up. And by looking at this poem, that story of greek mythology connects totally well with this poem that Atwood had written. (Words like: Island, birds, mythical, singing, 'help me' gave me clues that this poem had a lot to do with the origin of the siren story.) Also, I think that the significance of the 'siren monster' has got to do something with feminism because the monster is a female that attack men. Looking at our history, woman is stereotyped as being weak, powerless, defenseless. However, in this poem, the main power is held by a female character.

I think within this poem, Atwood is mainly trying to come across a feminism idea. That woman might be treated as a second priority, but that we can hold power and have some strong side of us as well as men. yes, very cliche thing for me to say, but that's what i think :)