Poetry Precis 18- "A Man I Knew" by Margaret Levine

In "A Man I Knew" by Margaret Levine, the speaker uses a reflective and humbled tone and symbolism as she remembers someone she used to know, either a friend or a partner. Throughout the poem, the speaker describes this man's personality through his posessions and belongings, the first one being a "condo". Unlike houses which are commonly bought, condos are rented, symbolizing this man's lack of commitment and inability to settle down. This man has a maid that comes "every other week" and children "who won't", meaning they do not even come every other week. These two descriptions of this man show his priorities in life; perhaps he has caused himself to be astray from his children and the maid is all he has now. Throughout this poem, the speaker seems to be upset about this ex friend or lover's values in life and from what it seems, the things she lists appear to be the reasons they are not together anymore. After analyzing the speaker's tone and her choices when describing this man, it seems she and this man value different things in life.