Her previous life, represented by her ex-boyfriend, has been lost in amongst her new role as a mother, and she has become someone different, disregarding her past, until she meets a past lover.

She realises that her life has become something she never wanted it to be; she has missed opportunities, and her sense of self has diminished in amongst the lives of her children. All of her energy has been devoted to her husband and children, and when she sees her ex-boyfriend, she feels a certain resentment for her selfless giving, and wishes that she had taken another path.

However, as a typical mother, she hides her feelings and continues chatting about her children, their birthdays and the like.

The poem ends with the woman saying, "They have

The type of change that the woman experienced was a change in lifestyle, because of her circumstance, which, in turn, has changed her emotional and physical self, and the way she looks at and experiences life.

The values of this poem are reflected through the negative attitude towards change. It shows that there are certain things in life that we must hold on to; especially a certain love of life, which can be lost when we are faced with too much responsibility. It also shows that we should have a strong sense of self and identity, which should not ever be lost. You should always be able to define yourself, regardless of burdens and responsibilities, and should not be caught up in the business of it all.

The poem leaves the responder feeling sympathy towards the woman. It makes us wonder why we choose certain paths in life, and what their possible consequences could be. The woman's life has been completely changed, and she resents this. There is a great contrast between the hint of a past romance and the present dismal reality of ordinary life, which

Some common words found in the essay are:
, sense self, change life, woman's life, love life, lives children,
Approximate Word count = 718
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)