The Wedding Ring Poem

The poem "Wedding Ring" by Lynne McMahon is a poem that interested me because I thought it was a love story, but when I read it, I noticed that it was about a ring that was found by one person. The poem does not specify who found the ring, but I infer by the details that it was probably the author’s boyfriend or friend who found it and gave it to her. This poem also mentions Ireland and France. I do not know why the author mentions both of these countries; maybe she is from Ireland and lives in France or she is visiting one place or the other. Also, it seems as she does not know the culture because she is trying to remember the ring's specific name given by the Irish culture apparently, but I do not know if the poet is asking another person, or if she is asking herself that question in order to remember. Apparently, the ring is part of the Irish culture because it has specific name and characteristic known to be a ring given to a loved one.

I infer that the poem explains something about culture. When the poet writes, "by borrowed themes," line 20; it is because she does not understand or does not like the culture, but it is something significant to the people of that place. The author is also analyzing how the ring ended up between the cushions in the restaurant. How could a person forget something so important because that ring is something very special; it symbolizes love, it is to be given to a loved one. If a person buys that ring, it is because that person is going to find a way to deliver it to his loved one, not lose it in a cheap diner. It is hard to believe how a sentimental and material piece has been forgotten so easily because the person who lost it could have tried to recover it.

One thing the narrator does not explain is who gave her the ring. It could be her boyfriend, her friend, or parents, and the reasons why that person gave the writer the ring is also unknown. You could assume that if her boyfriend gave her the ring is may be because he wants to marry her or he loves her. If it was not him, why did that person not keep it for him or herself as a keepsake? Another thing is that the poet does not know who the ring belongs to, and does not specify what the person who found the ring was doing there in the first place. I do not understand when the poet writes “a momentary recognition that trash sent bowling dawn the street by sudden wind,” in line 13, 14, and 15. What is the meaning of the reference to the trash carried by the wind in the poem?

The narrator leaves out so much information and I cannot understand the poem. She does not give more information about this ring. It seems like she is in love with the idea of receiving a wedding ring. I do not know why the ring is important to her; I just know it is because otherwise why would she write a poem of that if it was not? It has to have a meaning, but she does not explain it. For me it is confusing to understand this poem because nothing in the poem helps me understand the importance of this ring, the poem is too vague as if she were trying to explain the importance of the ring but holds back, keeping it a secret only she knows.