3.

SUMMARY OF THE POEM

In this poem, the persona is the poet himself as a young child. He tells us that his older
sister, Lulu, is missing. Actually she has run away, but when he asks his mother, she does not
tell him what has happened. He sees Lulus old rag-doll on her bed and a shoe by its side. Her
window is open and her money-box is gone. When he asks his mother why she is crying and
burning a note, she says that it is nothing. He is puzzled and asks her innocently what has
happened to Lulu, but she is silent. Then he tells her that he heard voices and a car late at
night, but she says that he must have been dreaming. Next, he says that he heard somebody
crying in anger or in pain, but she explains that it must have been the rain. He is confused. He
notices that she is confused too and wants to know what has happened to his sister.
4. FIGURATIVE MEANING OF THE POEM
Nowadays, many young people, especially teenage girls run away from home. In some cases,
parents restrain them by advising them not to trust anyone and simply leave home. But they still
disobey and run away only to regret later. In many cases, parents do not know anything until suddenly
they find their daughters missing. These young girls get cheated and are always in serious trouble. The
family feels the pain and sorrow about the loss of their beloved sister or daughter.