Kim Addonizio's Poem

In this poem, Kim Addonizio displays the theme of desire and need, in particular a woman’s desire, and she uses a red dress as a metaphor to make her point. In the poem rather than her making it seem mysterious or like there is a hidden message, the poem is straightforward and to the point. She declares her point in the very first line of the poem when she answers the question in the title to: “I want a red dress.” This simple statement paints a picture in the reader’s mind and it says so much in so little words. This is what the poem is about, Addonizio is telling us, the image of the red dress is important.

Almost everyone knows or has heard the expression “little black dress”, the dress that is thought to be picture-perfect for nearly any

and every occasion. A red dress, however, is very different. A red dress is daring, a red dress is suggestive, and a red dress makes a woman stand out in a crowd full of people. Red is a bright and vibrant color, and it usually stands for the strong emotions such as, passion, desire, rage. A red dress is much more than just an article of clothing; a red dress speaks for itself. So when Addonizio starts her poem off with “I want a red dress,” the reader can take that simple statement and further interpret it. This is a poem, not a shopping list, therefore we know she is saying that she wants more than just a red dress she wants what the red dress signifies. Clothing is so much more than just a covering for the human body. In today’s society it’s an important part of our humanity. Beyond its practical utility, clothing identifies us, shows to the world information about not only gender, but culture, and it lets a person show their personality and individuality. Just like animals use their feathers or colors to show emotion and even warning or interest. Humans communicate through clothing in more ways than you could think of.
So in this poem the author wants to convey what this dress really represents. She says, “I want it flimsy and cheap, I want it too tight, I want to wear it until someone tears it off me.” To me this gives such a strong message, there is so much emotion that lies within this statement, it is saying that the woman wearing this dress wants to draw attention to herself and wants people to be attracted to her. The red dress is bold so it gets the attention of people and opens their eyes. Addonizio makes it known that she really just wants to be noticed in everyday life. She doesn’t have to be at a fancy party or be a model to wear this dress, the dress serves a purpose and that is simply to be noticed. The speaker sort of has a conceited attitude and it shows when she says, “I want to walk like I’m the only woman on earth and I can have my pick.” This also shows a sense of confidence and that she wants to hold her head up and feel like she is wanted. This poem is all about how this red dress makes the speaker feel. The dress sets her apart from others, from the dirt and the labor, it makes her feel extraordinary.