Doll Eyes Poem

After the first time reading the poem “Doll Eyes”, it took me a while to comprehend the real meaning of the message presented in the text. The first stanza of the poem, was filled with a sense of scorn, as the narrator described the boy as being “scrawny.” However, he continues with the selection of detail as he goes on to describe the young boys beautiful “amber” eyes. At this point, I was not completely sure of what the author was trying to portray, until I identified the shift in tone through the line, “bedroom eyes on a boy?”
That statement alone set the tone for the rest of the poem. At this point, I was sure that the intent of this writing was meant to touch on the presence of femininity in a male. Personally, features such as eyes, which God artistically created for the
We as a society have come up with means as to which gender should enjoy which activities. While doing that, we have also created double standards. It is more socially acceptable for girls to play sports and to wear male clothing, but as soon as the roles are switched, judgment begins. When I was younger, I also enjoyed action figures, but does that mean I am not “feminine” enough? What is the difference between an action figure and a doll? The fact that society denounces men for showing sensitivity, using emotions as a sign indicating that he is not “man enough,” severely upsets me.
As for the father in the story, he teaches each reader an ironic lesson. The fact that he vilified his son for merely liking dolls and declares “BE A MAN,” yet wails at the death of his son, presents the hypocrisy of society. I don’t understand why the father cared when his son died, yet judged and deprived him of love based on a simple preference while he was alive. This is a lesson to love one another regardless of if our values or preferences relate, or differ. Overall, I enjoyed the poems irony and message of hypocrisy and neglect to further present the gravity of