Eve from the rib, Venus from foam, Minerva from Jupiter's head – All three were more real than me. When he isn't looking at me, I try to catch my reflection on the wall. And I see the nail where a picture used to be.
The poem reflects on the existence and perception of female figures from mythology, suggesting that characters like Eve, Venus, and Minerva seem more vivid and impactful than the speaker's own reality. The juxtaposition of these powerful symbols highlights feelings of inadequacy and invisibility in comparison to these legendary women, whose origins are imbued with significance and grandeur.
The speaker's attempt to find self-worth is illustrated through their effort to glimpse their reflection on the wall. Instead, they are met with a physical reminder of absence, symbolized by the nail left behind from a picture. This suggests a longing for identity and recognition, underscoring the theme of struggling for presence in a world dominated by myth and otherness.
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