"Getting Out"
By: Cleopatra Mathis
Throughout the poem by Cleopatra Mathis, literary techniques direct and guide the story. Through imagery, similes, and organization a clear path of storytelling is created. The reader is thus guided on an emotional roller-coaster of love and separation which creates a sense of heart-break both within the characters themselves as well as the reader.
"That year we hardly slept, waking like inmates who beat the walls (Page 896, Lines 1-2)." This opening phrase of the poem creates a simile that defines the tone of the speaker. In comparing the individuals in the relationship to an "inmates," the speaker immediately creates the imagery of being trapped. Trapped for one's own doing and faults. Thus, the first stanza focuses on fights while not blaming the speaker, but rather seeing it as the speaker and their partner's own conflict in character as some relationships just simply do not work. The poem progresses then, while maintaining this imagery, to the second stanza where hesitation and desire is presented. While it talks of the man trying to leave, but never actually being able to, the conflict of desire for love over happiness is illustrated. Finally, however, love wins through the giving of happiness to each other as the couple finally parts as there hands and the tie that once linked them becomes broken. 
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