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Kaleidoscope
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Poem
I Have a Broom
Zhai Yongming
INTRO
Zhai Yongming is a prominent Chinese poet, essayist and screenwriter. She emerged
as a powerful voice in Chinese literature with the publication of her first poetry collection,
Women, in 1986. She is considered as a foundational Chinese feminist poet. She is the first
Chinese writer who explored elements of gender and feminine identity beyond the scope of
the male oriented gaze. She has to her credit a large number of collections of poetry, essays
and articles. She is influenced by poets such as Sylvia Plath and W.B. Yeats.
The poem, "I have a Broom", explores themes of identity, power, and personal
agency. The broom is a tool and a weapon of empowerment, self-expression, and social
change. The poem ends on a note of determination. She has the confidence to confront her
fears. Drawing strength from her roots, she finds a new sense of clarity and purpose towards a
brighter future.
SHORT ANSWER
1. What does the broom symbolise in the poem?
The broom symbolises a weapon and a tool of empowerment, self-expression, and
social change.
2. What does the phrase, 'a path that is my own', suggest?
Zhai Yongming says that the broom gives her a colourful life, fresh air and a path that
is her own. It is a weapon, a means to claim control of her own life.
3. Explain the line, 'I brandish a broom'.
Zhai Yongming says that she brandishes a broom like a weapon. She walks
about waving the broom proudly. To her “broom” means “a tool for work and a weapon for
liberation.” It gives her courage, confidence and identity.
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4. Describe the ending of the poem "I have a Broom".
At the end of the poem, the poet brandishes a broom as if it is a weapon. She moves
on, greeting the morning breeze, leaving behind her a clean street. She displays the
determination to confront her fears, drawing strength from her roots. She also finds a new
sense of clarity and purpose towards a brighter future.
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS
1. What is the significance of the title, "I Have a Broom"?
The title of the poem, “I Have a Broom”, is very significant. Zhai Yongming says she
has a broom, and thereby a colorful life, fresh air and her own path. She can ignore
neighbour's ridicule, and the obstruction of relatives and friends. Now, she has work. She can
sweep away all the garbage in the streets as well as in people's minds. With courage and
confidence, she can remove the pained wrinkles of her mother's brows. With her mother’s
blessings, she can brandish a broom like a weapon, move on greeting the morning breeze,
leaving behind her a clean street. Thus, the broom becomes a tool and a weapon for
empowerment, self-expression, and social change.
2. Comment on the imagery employed in the poem.
In the poem, “I Have a Broom”, Zhai Yongming uses several images to re-shape
normalized concepts of gender and femininity. The poet exploits the broom’s traditionally
'feminine' connotations in Chinese culture to create metaphors for women's pain and explore
their psyches. The broom symbolises a weapon and a tool of empowerment, self-expression,
and social change. The poet brandishes the broom as if she would brandish a sword to move
on, clearing away the filth in the streets as well as in people’s minds. The image of the mirror
reflects the truth behind the mildness of her mother’s eyes, and the pained wrinkles of her
mother’s brows. The broom has given her courage, identity and familial roots.
3. Comment on the style and language of the poem.
Zhai Yongming's style of writing consists of viewing the world from a historical
perspective. The language she uses is a distinctly structured and direct style of prose. For this,
she employs ordinary, commonplace, conversational diction. She creates a poetic language
that is markedly feminine and capable of capturing contemporary experiences of Chinese
women. This style is very effective as a gateway for women's self-reflexive, subconscious
progressive thoughts. In the poem, the broom becomes a powerful symbol for societal reform.
In order to drive home her points, she uses plenty of images such as mirror, mother’s eyes
and wrinkles, the street and the morning breeze.
Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy - email: [email protected]
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