Your hand, please

Conceit

Give me your hand

Make room for me
to lead and follow
you
beyond this rage of poetry.

Let others have
the privacy of
touching words
and the love of loss
of love.

For me
Give me your hand.

Maya Angelou (2003);

The literary term conceit is a metaphor whose comparison is more complex than the simple comparison of most metaphors.  So by naming her poem the literary term, Angelou is telling the reader that there is more than something simple here.  If the title is merely sarcasm of the types of poems people normally write (as stated in the stanza saying that others could have the poetry about love lost), then the poem fails in being complex.  So, what is meant?

Angelou is wanting to go beyond what is normal.  Those who love, write poetry about their loved one or their experience of love, especially lost love.  But, she wants to ensure that she is not writing about love lost.  She wants to be above words.  Others can have the privacy of their words.  She wants the active love in addition to the verbal love.

The poem starts and ends the same way... almost.  The first line has no punctuation.  It anticipates explanation.  However, the last line ends with a period.  The explanation is finished.  It is time for love... at least by invitation.  Extending an invitation should be simple.  But this invitation is more complex than merely asking for your hand and is best understood through a play on words.  The expression of love through the rage of poetry is compared to a higher expression of love: rising above the rage.  The pun on rage is intended.  Normally, people cathardically spill their rage (anger) by scribbling off a few lines; they should rise above it.  And, the invitation extends to escaping the fashionable (rage) response - jilted love.  She doesn't want to be a casualty of either anger or fashion.  Angelou is asking the one she loves to make room for her - escape with her.  

So... give me your hand.