Explication of "How Many Times" By Marie Howe

This Explication is going to be on "How many times" by Marie Howe. I choose this poem because it is really something that I personally connect with. I do not normally base any of my scholastic work on personal experiences but I am making an exception with this one. The poem is all about how the narrator's sister is recounting how her father was raping her sister and how she has always tried to do something but is too afraid to do more than hiss a warning. The author does not really give very much, if any visual imagery but does use auditory cues to describe the scene and words to give you the bigger "picture;" The poem also gives you the sense that the observing sister is feeling guilty about not doing anything and not overcoming her fears.

The first couple times read this poem, there was some difficulty understanding what it was about. It seemed like just a bunch of discombobulated lines that had nothing to do with each other. Then by about the 4^th time reading it through, it became clear that there might be some sort of abuse going on, and then it became obvious that this poem is about rape. The last two lines of the poem which are "It's our father, and still the door opens, and she/makes that small oh turning over (Lines 17 and 18)" are what made it clear. The "small oh (line 18)" could be the sister thinking something to the effect of "oh please do not let this be happening again."

Imagery is always important in writing, whether it be poetry, stories or drama. Although sometimes, in a poem such as "How many times" where Marie Howe uses auditory cues to tell the story. The only visual the reader really gets is in line 4 and it says "it's dark in the hall." Although, it can be assumed that there is a bit more of the visual aspect in this poem in the first two lines of the poem.

"No matter how many times I try I can't stop my father
from walking into my sister's room."

In these first two lines, it is possible that narrator's sister's room is either across the hall or at least within visual view. Even within earshot as it the poem suggests in line 14 where it says "if I whisper her name, hissing a warning."

While reading the poem, which the narrator seems to feel guilty about not stopping her father from raping her sister. Although, this is never directly stated in the text if the poem but it seems that the narrator wishes she could do more for her sister. For example, "This is exactly as I knew it would be (Line 13)." The narrator knew that it was going to happen and in my mind the narrator feels guilty for not talking to an authority figure of some sort. It could also be possible that the narrator is too afraid to do anything because the father is drunk as stated in lines 12 and 13 of the poem. Having a father (or even mother) who drinks way too much is an incredibly scary thing and a child does not know what will happen if he or she "does something wrong" in the eyes of the drunk parent or guardian. So therefore, the narrator is possibly trying to warn her sister while trying to not get a possible beating from her father.

At first pass, the poem can be a bit confusing but after reading it a couple times it becomes clear. This poem isn't based on imagery but describes what is going on with the auditory sense. Lines 8 and 9 are a perfect example.

"Where the water glass falls to the bathroom floor
and bounces once before breaking."

Also, the narrator seems to feel guilty about not helping her sister out. This poem is really something that allot of people can connect with because it happens to so many kids and adults these days yet so few people actually report these incidents. Statistics are based on the amount of rapes that are reported. The way the author approaches this issue is phenomenal, although it is not as clear as it would be but it leaves room for the reader to imagine the scenario in his or her own mind.