Poem For A Lady Whose Voice I Like

Giovanni’s poem is a dialogue between two people called only “he” and “she.” Though the speaker never gives any commentary, the title explains that the speaker likes the voice of the “lady,” setting up an expectation for the reader to side with the lady against the man. This framing device allows the reader to make their own inferences, as though they too are overhearing the conversation for themselves. It invites the reader to ask which of the two voices they prefer. A reader might consider this not only as an overheard conversation between a man and a woman but as an allegory for the role of the male critic and the female creator. One tries to tear the other down, and the lady must go on creating despite that criticism.

The juxtaposition of the two voices makes it clear how different they are. One is the voice of a male who is criticizing the lady by telling her she “ain’t got no talent” (Line 1). It establishes that the woman is a creator or artist of some kind and that the man may be a critic, either formally or just an