belly dancer by diane Wakoski

This poem is mainly about women's liberation. Diane Wakoski uses the art of belly dancing to show how despite that fact that we now live in a time where women are given the same rights and values as the men of this world there is still a restriction on sexuality and desire. Wakoski is basically writing towards the women who are afraid to go beyond themselves and want more than what they are given. It is actually comical how it is a major downplay towards men, as it seems as though they may be a key part of the reason as to why these liberated women are so un liberated. It is quite the oxymoron in this time and age. Wakoski calls the women in this poem "old-young" because it is their prim, proper and close minded nature towards sexuality that makes them seem as if they are living in body of the young while their mind reminds trapped in the old fashion ways of the elderly. For these women to whom Wakoski is referring to she is saying that they are battling against their own sexuality because the men to whom they are married to or trapped to cannot begin to satisfy this sexuality even if it was to be released. Oddly enough even the sensual curve and movement of a snake is enough to cause fright and awkward stares while the belly dancer continues to show the woman that there is nothing wrong with sex or the exotic nature of a woman, all the while scorning the men who try and show otherwise.